CALL1O'NYMUS, a genus of Fishes belonging to the Abdominal Acanthopterygii and family Gobia{lm.
The species of this genus are known in England by the name of Dragonets. Their branchim have but a single small opening placed near the nape of the neck ; their ventral fins are widely separated, larger than the pectorals, and situated under the throat ; the bead is oblong and depressed; the eyes are placed on the top of the bead and rather close together ; body smooth and without scales ; inter maxillaries very protractile; teeth small, numerous, and placed on the jaws only; the anterior dorsal fin has the first ray elongated.
Two species of this curious genus (remarkable for the peculiarities in the branchite and ventral fins above noticed) are found on our own coasts. C. Dracunculua, the Sordid Dragonet, the Fox of the Kentish coast and the Skulpin of Cornwall, is the better known, being frequently met with at the mouth of the Thames. It is about 10 inches long and of a reddish-brown colour above ; the under parts, the head, pectoral and ventral fins uniformly white; the dorsal fins are of an immaculate pale-brown.
C. lyra, the Gemmeous Dragonet, Yellow Skulpin of Cornwall and Gowdie of Scotland, very closely resembles the one above described and indeed has by some been considered as the same species. Then
appears however to be very good grounds for separating them, inde pendent of the difference of colour. The prevailing hue of this species is yellow of various shades, with sapphirine stripes and spots on the bead and aides of the body. The ventrals and caudal Etna are bluish-black.
In the Sordid Dragonet the head bears the proportion of one to five of the whole length of the fish, and is of the form of an equilateral triangle : the distance between the eyes and the nostrils is only equal to one diameter of the former.
In the Gemmeous Dragonet the head is of an oblong-ovate form, and its length compared with that of the fish is as one to four : this species may also be distinguished from the former by its less depressed form.
The latter species has been found on various parte of our own coast as well as that of Ireland. It also occurs in the Mediterranean and on the coast • The Dragonets live at the bottom of the water, as might be sup posed from the disposition of the eyes. Their food consists of small shell-fish and worms. They are sometimes caught by the shrimpers whilst fishing.