SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. 9,7 



Sub-class Teleostei. Blennioid^. 



seen about the head, about the body, and under the eyes. Pre- 

 opercle has three spines partially concealed. Branchial apertures 

 the size of the base of the pectorals. 



Body thick at fore part, tapering, and some compressed poste- 

 riorly, of an olive green or yellowish color, flecked in with green. 

 Fins, orange, except the dorsal which is greenish. The skin has no 

 scales, and is covered with mucus which is freely produced from 

 the numerous pores. 



Dorsal fin continuous to the tail, with which it is connected by a 

 membrane. The first three rays are spinous. 



Pectorals are large and arise near the lower part of the gill open- 

 ings. Ventrals commence forward of the pectorals. First ray 

 sickle form, covered with thick membrane. The anal fin terminates 

 on a line with the end of the dorsal. 



Eay formula — 



D. 3, 27; P. 16; V. 3 ; C. 14. 



Synonymes. — Gadus tau, Linn. 



Lophius bufo, Mitch. 

 Batrachoides vernullus, Lesuer. 

 B. variegatus, Storer. 



Family Blennioid^, Bona. 

 Mucous fish. 



Char. Body. — Generally small and oifers a great variety of forms 

 from a rounded and subfusiform shape to an elongated, taenoid, and 

 very much compressed one. Scaly in some genera, scaleless in 

 others ; scales either ctenoid or cycloid in shape and structure. 



Head. The pseudobranchige are gill-like and conspicuous. 



Fins. Are as diversified according to the genera in structure, 

 and aspect as the body. Ventrals, when present, are separated 

 from one another, and situate in advance of the base of the pectorals. 

 In some genera these fins are quite rudimentary, whilst in others 

 they are altogether wanting. 



Stomach. No pyloric appendages to the intestine. 



Air bladder. Absent in a great majority of the genera. 



Sub-family Blenin^, Bona. 

 Gen. Char. Body elongated, compressed very much. Head small and oblong, 

 with an obtuse snout, and a small mouth. . The maxillar teeth are velvet or ard- 

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