363 



of Dr. Gray search has been made both in the British Mu- 

 seum and in the collections of the Zoological Society for the 

 specimens of this fish, but unfortunately in vain. The notices 

 of Blennius polaris given in the subjoined foot-note show 

 that it can scarcely be the same species with our mucosus, the 

 markings of the two being very distinct. 



Description 

 of a female specimen of L. mucosus. 



In general appearance this fish has a considerable resem- 

 blance to the Zoarces viviparus, especially when both are en- 

 veloped in the thick mucus which they throw out copiously 

 in dying. The head constitutes very nearly one-fourth of the 

 total length of the fish, and its breadth just behind the eyes, 

 where it is greatest, exceeds its height there by about one- 

 third. The back equals the head in breadth, and the belly is 

 more or less tumid according to its contents ; but from the 

 vent to the tip of the tail the compression is such that the 

 distal half of the fish resembles the point of a straight sword. 

 The anus is exactly in the middle of the total length, its bor- 

 der is tumid, and a small papilla projects from behind it. 



Mandible shorter than the upper jaw. Orifice of the mouth 

 tolerably large, but the cleft does not extend so far as the eye. 

 A skinny lip borders the upper jaw, being attached to the 

 premaxillaries. The mandibular lip is developed into a lobe 

 on each side, but is wanting at the symphysis. A row of su- 

 bulate teeth exists on the premaxillaries, mandible, and pala- 

 tines : the row is double in front of the upper and lower jaws, 

 and there is a round cluster on the vomer. The numbers and 

 positions of the teeth are shown in figs. 4 and 5. 



enclosed in a lax skin ; upper jaw considerably longer than the under 

 one, teeth conspicuous to the naked eye ; no scales were detected by 

 the microscope. Colour, a yellowish ground, lighter on the belly, with 

 eleven large saddle-shaped markings across the back, the middle of 

 these markings being much lighter than their edges, the whole back 

 and sides marbled. No spots on the dorsal fin similar to those of 

 Blennius ocellatm. 



2 B 2 



