233 



BLENNIOPS. 



Tue body lengthened, having small scales. Head sloping to the 



mouth; over the eyes elevated and bordered branched or fimbriated 



tendrils. Dorsal fin long and even, except the first two or three rays, 



which are longest, and tipped with tendrils. The scales are scarcely 

 or not at all visible when newly from the water, and they do not 

 overlap each other. 



YARR ELL'S BLENNY. 



Blennius galerita, Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 207. 



" palmicornis, Jenyns; Manual, p. 380. 



" YarrelUi, Ouvier. Yarrell; Br. F., vol. i, p. 263. 



Blenrriops Ascanvi, G-tjntheb.; Cat. Br. M., vol. iii. p. 2S I. 



This species has been known in Britain for almost a century, 



but so imperfectly as to have been confounded with one or two 



others, to which it bears but little likeness. Yet it cannot be 



deemed rare, for besides an example that is represented in the 



work of Pennant, it was found by Dr. Fleming in Scotland, on 



the coast of Norway by Xilsson, in Yorkshire and also at 



Berwick by Dr. George Johnston, by whom the specimen was 



communicated to Mr. Yarrell and Mr. Jenyns. It has been 



found also at Wick, in Scotland, by Mr. Peach, and not un- 



frequently in Cornwall, so that three examples have been 



taken there in one day. In no instance, however, have I 



known it to have taken a bait: a circumstance which may be 



explained by the fact, that while it generally keeps in deeper 



water than the others of the British species of its family, the 



narrow gape of its mouth scarcely admits of its receiving such 



hooks as are employed at the depth of water it frequents, 



and which is not commonly less than from five to seven or 



eight fathoms. It is worthy of notice, however, that while this 



is the case in Cornwall, it is found only between tide-marks 



in the north. It is caught not unfrequently in crab-pots, 

 VOL. II. 2 H 



