88 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



Atherina is also a genus which does not associate well with any other. It 

 comprises small fish, whose young assemble in crowded shoals, and are greatly 

 prized for their delicate flavour. They have an elongated body, two dorsals very 

 widely separated, ventral s posterior to the pectorals, a very protractile mouth, 

 which is armed with exceedingly slender teeth, six gill-rays and no caeca. All the 

 known species have a broad silvery stripe on each flank. Four species, hitherto 

 confounded under the name of A. hepsetus, exist in the European seas, and there 

 are a considerable number in the Indian, Polynesian, Australian, and American 

 seas. Dr. Mitchill enumerates three among the fish of New York, A. mordaoc, 

 viridescens, and notata, the latter being the A. menidia of Linnaeus. They are 

 known by the names of " Silver sides," or " Silver fish." 



GOBIOIDE^E. 



The GoMoideco may be recognised by the slenderness and flexibility of their dorsal 

 rays. They have an uniformly wide intestinal canal, no pyloric caeca, and no air- 

 bladder*. The family is divided into the following genera: — Blennius, Anar- 

 rhichas, Gobius, Callionymus, and Platyptera. 



[40.] 1. Blennius (Clinus) punctatus. (Fabr.) The AhooliakeeUok. 



Family, Gobioideae. Genus, Blennius. Sub-genus, Clinus, Cuvier. 

 Blennius punctatus. Fabr. Fauna Groenl., p. 153, N. 110. 

 Centronotus punctatus. Schneider, Bloeh, p. 166. 

 Akooliakeetsok. Greenlanders. 



The genus Blennius has a well-marked character in its jugular ventrals, com- 

 posed of two rays only. The body is elongated and compressed, the dorsal single, 

 and its rays are almost all simple, though flexible. The skin is covered with 

 mucus. Many of the species are viviparous, and both sexes are provided with a 

 tubercle near the anus. The Blennies in general have the habit of swimming in 



* Most of the Gobies have a simple air-bladder. 



