GOBIES AND BLENNIES. 
165 
are viviparous, as we shall presently see of the 
I Bleiinies. 
j 3. Callionymina. Here the ventrals are sepa- 
I rate, larger than the pectorals, and placed far 
forward under the throat. There are two dorsals, 
sometimes much elevated. The head is oblong, 
1 flattened, with the eyes looking upwards, and 
with a very small hole on each side of the nape, 
for the gill-opening. They much resemble the 
i Gurnards in shape and aspect ; they are small 
I fishes with a smooth skin, covered with slime, but 
, often adorned with brilliant colours. The mouth 
I is small and very protractile, and the jaws are 
studded with small, thickly-set teeth, 
i Two species of this group are found on the 
British shores, called Dragonets. One of these, 
I the Gemmeous Dragonet, {Callionymus lyra, 
^ Linn.), is a little fish of unusual brilliancy. The 
i body is yellow of various tints, with the head 
! and sides marked with spots, dashes, and h lines 
I of sapphire-blue : the dorsal -fins are pale brown, 
i crossed by several bands of black. All the fins 
are very large, but the two dorsals in particular 
are elevated in the form of high sails, and the 
first is tall, slender, and curved like a crescent. 
To this group is assigned that singular fish, 
which has been already alluded to as inhabiting 
Lake Baikal, {Comepliorus Baicalensisy Pall.)^ 
While agreeing, in many points with the other 
' species, there are some important ones in which 
it differs, particularly in the total absence of 
ventral fins. Pallas’s account represents it as 
varying from four to six inches in length, with 
a broad depressed head, and a soft unctuous body. 
* Nov. Act i. 9. 
