98 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Sdb-clas3 Teleostei. Blennioid^. 



like, disposed upon one row on the lower jaw and upon a double row on the upper 

 jaw. Velvet-like teeth on the front of the vomer. Palatine. bones and tongue occa- 

 uionally provided with a few prickles. Dorsal fin occupying the whole length of the 

 back, and composed exclusively of spiny rays. Anal fin long and low, provided 

 anteriorly with two spines. Ventrals excessively small, inserted under base of pec- 

 torals and often reduced to a single ray. Caudal fin slender, exteriorly rounded and 

 oqntiguous to the dorsal and anal. Scales very small. Lateral line not perceptible. 



Gtinnellus mucronafus, Guv. 

 Butter fish. 



The American butter fish is a beautiful species of the Blenny 

 family, and is so called on account of the thick covering- of mucus 

 which envelops its body. It is found among the rocks on the 

 coast from Nova Scotia to New York. It is not unfrequently 

 found at low tides in the shoal water among the stones, and some- 

 times partly buried in the sand and mud ; but sometimes moving 

 slowly and leisurely along', although it is capable of very swift 

 motion. When first taken from the water it is almost semi-trans- 

 parent, so near it that when held up against a strong light, its back 

 bone (vertebra?) can be very plainly seen. 



Characteristics. Greyish with a series of dark oval rings along 

 the sides. Dorsal fins not united to the caudal. In place of the 

 ventrals are two short spines. Length from four to twelve inches. 

 — DeKay. 



Color. The living fish is of an olive brown with numerous in- 

 distinct darker bands upon the sides ; about twelve black ocelli 

 along the base (jf the dorsal fin, each surrounded by a yellow ring. 

 Fins yellow ; the anal barred with white. Pupils black ; irides 

 golden. Abdomen yellowish. An oblique black band passes from 

 beneath the eye to the throat. — Siorer. 



Description. The head is about one-tenth the length of the body, 

 and blunt at anterior part. Mouth nearly vertictil. Jaws equal, 

 but wlien extended lower one a little the longest. Each jaw has 

 minute sharp teeth — somewhat distant, with a small cluster of them 

 on the vomer. Branchial rays six. Branchial aperture large. The 

 body of this species is elongated, mucli compressed and without 

 Bcales. 



Fins. The dorsal is single, long, sliglitly raised above the back, 

 commences above the branchial aperture on a lino over the poste- 

 rior angle of the operculum and extends nearly to the base of the 



