96 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



2. Family. — Hand-Fishes (Chironectidae). Body 



naked, thick, generally compressed, some- 

 times tuberculated, no scales; mouth cleft 

 vertically, lower jaw longest ; pectorals pe- 

 dunculated, capable of being used as feet. 



3. Family. — Blenny-Bullheads (Batrachidse). Head 



broader than body, obtuse, depressed, with 

 slender cirrhi ; no distinct spines or bony 

 tubercles ; scales small, regular, sometimes 

 embedded in skin and not visible externally 

 pectorals broad, not pedunculated ; mouth 

 wide, not vertical ; ventrals very small, 



4. Family. — Blennies (Blenniidse). Body com- 



pressed ; ventrals before pectorals, very slen- 

 der, of two or three cylindrical rays ; head 

 thick, obtuse ; lips fleshy ; body covered with 

 a slimy mucus; dorsal fins composed of 

 spinous and soft rays. 



5. Family. — Gobies (Gobiidae). Body elongated, 



slimy ; head large, depressed ; dorsal fins 

 two, rays thin, setaceous, and flexible ; ven- 

 trals united into a funnel ; eyes approxi- 

 mating. 



6. Family. — Dragonets (Callionymidse). Head and 



body depressed ; first dorsal rays in some 

 much elevated ; ventrals larger than pecto- 

 rals, distinct, shortest rays, in some, in front j 

 in some, wanting. 



7. Family. — Suckers (Cyclopteridse). Body ovoid 



or oblong, slimy, scales none ; pectorals very 

 broad, and uniting with a transverse mem- 



