THE JUMPER-FISH. 



257 



length of six or seven feet, but in the northern seas, where it thrives best, it greatly exceeds 

 those dimensions. There is an American variety where the vertical streaks are modified into 

 round spots of blackish-brown. 



The Sea Wolf is taken by the fishermen of Swampscott, and along the shores of New 

 England, in winter frequently, and once was considered a nuisance, as it interfered with cod- 

 fishing. It has been found to be a valuable food-fish, since the considerable advance in the 

 price of cod-fish and haddock. Blennies are numerous among the rocks on the eastern coast 

 the Butter-fish among them. 



The typical genus of this family is represented by several specimens, of which the EYED 

 BLENNY is one of the most conspicuous. 



This pretty fish is not very common. From the elevated dorsal fin, and the bold dark 

 brown spot that decorates it, this Blenny has sometimes been called the Butterfly -fish. In the 

 Mediterranean it is tolerably common, and lives mostly among the seaweed, where it finds 

 abundance of the smaller Crustacea and mollusks. 



The dorsal fin of this fish is very large, being greatly elevated and extending from the back 

 of the head almost to the tail. The dark spot is placed between the sixth and eighth rays. 



,0'' 



SKA WOLF. Anarr/tic/ias Input. 



The color of the Eyed Blenny is pale brown, patched here and there with a darker tint. The 

 dark spot on the fin is mostly edged with white or very pale yellow. The length of this fish is 

 seldom more than three inches. 



Among other species of Blenny the SHANNY, or SHAN (Blennius pholis) is tolerably com- 

 mon in European seas. 



PASSING by the remaining Blennies, all of which are very similar in habits and general 

 appearance, we must pause for a short space to examine a very curious species belonging to 

 the same family, called the JUMPER-FISH (Saldrias triddctylus). 



This odd little fish offers no remarkable beauties of color or form, being of a simple dark 

 brown, and without any salient points of external structure; but it is possessed of a wonderful 

 power of suddenly leaping out of the water, darting over the wet stones and rocks and snap- 

 ping up flies and other insects with the nimble agility of the lizard. It can scramble up a 

 nearly perpendicular face of rock, and is so wary and agile, that on the least attempt to seize 

 it, the little creature darts towards the sea and is nearly certain to make its escape. While 

 engaged in this pursuit, the Jumper-fish adheres so tightly to the rock, that 't is not detached 



VOL. m. 88. 



