BLENNOID FORKBEARD. 



129 



not in either instance counted, as Dr. Gunther lays much stress 

 on their number in determining the species, and of which he 

 observes that five or six series of scales are bctAvecn the first 

 dorsal fin and the lateral line. The ventral fins did not reach 

 quite to the vent, and it may have been the mark of age that 

 the barb at the point of the jaw was reduced to a stump; 

 and while the tail was nearly even, a few of its npper rays 

 were extended into a point. Visible scales covered the checks 

 as well as the body, and the second dorsal and anal fins did 

 not approach close to the tail. Colour generally light grey. 



The young specimen, with the length of four inches, Avas not 

 an inch in depth; snout much in front of the mouth, gape 

 wide, opening back behind the front of the iris of the eye. 

 Eye large, the two closer together than the breadth of either; 

 scales rather large, vent a little nearer the head than to the 

 root of the tail. Pectoral fin long and narrow, reaching to 

 the origin of the second dorsal. First dorsal fin high, triangular, 

 pointed, having ten rays, of which the first was single for a 

 third of its length beyond the membrane. Second dorsal long, 

 slender, pointed behind, the end of its rays reaching to the 

 root of the tail; anal fin beginning close to the vent, and 

 ending at some nearer distance from the tail than the dorsal. 

 Caudal fin narrow and lancet-shaped. Ventrals a slender thread, 

 reaching beyond the vent, and divided into two branches behind 

 the half of its length. Colour of the fish light grey; anterior 

 portion and end of the first dorsal black, its hindward border 

 bright white, border of the second dorsal and tail black. 



It has been already hinted that the Rocklings may have 

 been the Asellus of ancient writers; but we shall only be doing 



VOL. III. s 



