o 



219 



BLENNIUS. 



The body compressed, smooth, and slippery, without scales. Jaws 

 equal, teeth in a sino;le row. Dorsal ami anal fins single, lengthened, 

 with flexible rays. Ventral fins at the throat, each having (only) two 

 rays. 



This family of fishes was called Alauda by the older naturalists, because 

 of a kind of crest which some species of them possess on the head, in 

 which they were supposed to resemble the lark. The name of JSlennus 

 was applied by the same writers to several sorts of fish, because of the 

 soft and grea-y appearance of their skin; and in the History of Fishes 

 by Jonston, the figure which may be supposed to represent the Dusky 

 Skulpin is marked with that name. It was from A^tedi that the 

 present genus received its name, with a slight change from the older 

 designation; and thus it became adopted by his friend Linnteus. There 

 is reason to suppose that some fish of the same family, and probably a 

 species of PerioptJir'' ms, which' has not been found in Britain, is the 

 Exocoetus of Aristotle; and that it was so named because it was believed 

 to quit the water for the sake of repose; as we shall find that some 

 of the genus now under consideration are known to do. 



GATTOEUGINE. 



Gattorugine, Willoughby ; p. 132, pi. H. 2. 



Blennius Gattorugine, Linn^us. Cuvier.. 



Blennie " Lacepede. 



Slennius fusciatus, B;isso; p. 127. 



Gattorugine, Fleming; Br. Animals,' p. 206. 



" " Jenyns; Manual, p. 379. 



" " Yaerell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 256. 



" " GuNTHER; Catalogue Bri.ish Miiseum, 



vol. iii, p. 212. 



This fish is known to fishermen of the west of England by 

 the homely appellation of Tompot; but the Italian name, as 

 above, will prevail with the more scientific portion of the public, 

 although the signification of the latter is scarcely more lofty 

 than that ot the former. It seems to be heavy in all its motions, 



