GOBIES. 
245 
adopted by Fries, together with Gobins Jeffrey sii, a 
species which has been described at a later date. Per- 
haps, however, we may be compelled rather to return 
to Nilsson’s point of view in his Prodr omus, where he 
refers Gobius flavescens and Gob. minutus to one spe- 
cies, an opinion which would now involve the regard- 
ing of all the last seven “species” in the above table 
as varieties of one and the same species. 
THE BLACK GOBY (sw. svarta smorbulten). 
GOBIUS NIGER. 
Plate XIII, figs. 3—5. 
Second dorsal fin long , the length of its base being at least equal to i / 5 of the distance between the first dorsal 
fin and the tig) of the snout. Peduncle of the tail deep and short; its least depth in full-grown specimens more 
than 7 5 of the distance between the first rays in the two dorsal fins, and its length from the end of the base of 
the second dorsal fin to the first upper supporting ray of the caudal fin at most about 40 — 45 % of the base of 
the second dorsal fin. Longitudinal diameter of the eye in full-grown specimens less , or at most only slightly more, 
than V 4 of the length of the head. Caudal fin rounded at the end. The two dorsal fins set fairly close together, 
sometimes ■united at the base. Scales middle-sized, about 40 in a. row along the sides of the body, and about 12 
in a transverse row between the beginning of the anal fin and the second' dorsal fin. Scales of the front part of 
the body extending forward, in f ull-grown specimens, along the dorsal side to a point vertically above the hind margin 
of the eye, and on the abdominal side to a point vertically below the union of the branchiostegal membranes and the 
isthmus. Body marked with indistinct, black, transverse 
('. x + 13 (15) + x. 
Syn. Gobius vel Gobio ( marinus ) niger , (Salv.), Belon, Rondel., 
Gesn., Willughby, Schonev., vide Art., Gen. Pise., p. 28; 
Syn. Pise., p. 4 6. 
Gobius niger , Lin., Syst. Nat., ed. X, tom. I, p. 262; Mull., Zool. 
Dan. Proclr., p. 44; Retz., Fn. Snec. Lin., p. 326; Nilss., 
Prodr. Ichtlx. Scand., p. 93; Ekstr., Vet.-Akad. Hand]. 
1834, p. 60; Fr., ibid. 1838, p. 242; Kr., Damn. Fiske, 
I, p. 382; Ekstr., Slcand. Fisk., ed. 1, p. 157; Wright, 
ibid., tab. 36; Nilss., Skand. Fauna, Fisk., p. 219; Sundev., 
Stockh. Laos Hush. Siillsk. Handl. VI (1855), p. 80; Gthr, 
Cat. Brit. Mas., Fish., Ill, p. 11; Mgrn, Pint. Fisk, (disp.) 
p. 16; Lindstr., Gotl. Fisk. (Gotl. LSds Hush. Siillsk. Ars- 
ber. 1866) p. 15 (sep.); Wintii., Naturh. Tidskr. Kbhvn, 
ser. 3, vol. IX, p. 181, tab. I'll et pp. 198 et 224; vol. 
XI, p. 54; vol. XII, p. 16; Coll., Chrnia Vid. Selsk. Forh. 
1874, p. 153; ibid., Tillsegsh., p. 52; Cederstb., Ofvers. 
Vet.-Akad. Forh. 1876, N:r 4, p.65; Malm, Gbgs, Boh. Fn., 
p. 423, tab. V, fig. 1; Feddersen, Naturh. Tidskr. Kbhvn, 
ser. 3, vol. XII, p. 74; Heincke, Arch. f. Naturg., Jalirg. 
46 (1880), 1, p. 306; Mor., Hist. Nat. Poiss., Fr., vol. II, 
p. 230; Day, Fish. G:t Brit., Irel., I, p. 163, tab. LII, fig. 
3; Mela, Vert. Fenn., p. 283, tab. IX; M6b., Hcke, Fische 
d. Osts., p. 52; Lillj., Sv., Norg. Fisk., I, p. 564; 
Gobius jozo , Mull., Zool. Dan. Prodr., p. 44; Retz., Fn. 
Suec. Lin., p. 326. 
In the Baltic the Black Goby seldom exceeds a, 
length of 75 mm., but in the North Sea it attains a 
length, measured from the tip of the snout to the base 
“ In young specimens the lower jaw is relatively longer. In 
45 % of that of the head. 
bands on a brownish green or dark gray ish green ground. 
of the caudal tin, of fully 150 mm. The body is elong- 
ated, anteriorly almost terete and from the vent to the 
caudal tin compressed. The greatest depth, generally 
at the beginning of the first dorsal fin, is about 1 / 6 of 
the total length of the body; and the greatest thick- 
ness, generally at the operculum, often equal to and 
in other cases only slightly less than the depth. The 
least depth of the body (tail) is about 1 10 (in young 
specimens about 7u) of the length. The back is broad 
and convex, the belly flat; the curves of the dorsal and 
ventral profiles about equal. The head is fairly large, 
measuring slightly less than 74 of the length of the 
body, convex at the top, with a depression between 
the eyes, and flat underneath. The length of the per- 
pendicular drawn through the eye is 1 / 2 the length of 
the head. The cheeks are so tumid that the breadth 
(thickness) of the head across them is 3 / 4 of its length. 
The occiput is also tumid, with a longitudinal groove 
which ends at the beginning of the first dorsal fin, in the 
middle. The mouth is fairly large and turned somewhat 
upwards; the length of the lower jaw is about 43 % a of 
that of the head. The jaws project about equally far; 
they are surrounded by a thick skin in the form of a 
round lip, and are armed with short, pointed teeth, set in 
several irregular rows. In the outermost row the teeth 
a specimen 34 mm. long we found the length of the lower jaw to be 
