252 THE GEMMEO US DBA G ONET 
have caught and kept many Gobies, and have frequently seen them sticking to the sides of the 
vessel in which they were confined. The adhesion was achieved with astonishing rapidity, and 
the little fish contrived to hold itself with wonderful tenacity. The surface of the Black Goby 
is very slippery, owing to the abundant mucous secretion which is poured from the appropriate 
glands, but after it has been in spirits for some time, the edges of the scales begin to project 
through the mucous, and are exceedingly rough to the touch. 
Several species of Goby inhabit the American shores, such as the Pole wig, or Spotted 
Goby {Gobius mmutics), a rather pretty little fish, transparent golden-gray, with a multitude 
of tiny black dots upon the back, and generally marked with some darkish blotches upon the 
sides, and a black spot on the dorsal fin. The Two-spot Goby ( Gobius RutTien sparii) is 
another species, and may by distinguished by the two deep brown spots on either side, one 
just above the root of the pectoral fin, and another on the side of the tail. 
In some places along the sea-coast, the Gobies are known by the popular appellation of 
Bull-routs, and are rather feared on account of the sharp bite which their strong jaws and 
pointed teeth can inflict upon the bare hand. 
POLEWIG, OR SPOTTED GOBY.— Gobius minutus. 
The general color of this fish is blackish-brown above, changing to white along the 
abdomen and under the chin. The length of this species seldom exceeds five or six inches. 
The Gobies, family Gobidce , are carnivorous fishes, mostly of small size, living on the 
bottoms near the shores in warm regions. Some inhabit fresh waters, and others live indis- 
criminately in either fresh or salt water. There are sixty to seventy genera, and nearly four 
hundred species. 
The pretty Gemmeotts Dbagohet, Fox-fish, Sculpix, or Gowdie, can easily be distin- 
guished from any other species, on account of its very remarkable shape 
It is not a very uncommon fish, and is captured either with the hook or in a net, the latter 
being the ordinary method of securing it. It is rather a voracious fish, and feeds chiefly on 
