VIVIPAROUS BLENNY. 241 



tencc. Soon after the production of their young the parents 

 are lost sight of, and probably they have retired to deeper 

 water. They arc sometimes brought to the market, but are 

 not esteemed for the table. 



This fish is of a lengthened form, which is round at its 

 origin, but becomes compressed and tapering as it approaches 

 its extremity. The head slopes gradually from behind to the 

 lips, which are fleshy; upper jaw longest; the teeth conical, 

 and not so closely and regularly arranged as in the generality 

 of Blennies. Eyes of moderate size, towards the top of the 

 head, but not close together. A line runs from the head along 

 the back, and is lost as it comes near the tail. The dorsal 

 tin begins above the border of the first gill-cover, and runs, a 

 little waved, to form the tail, by becoming joined to the anal 

 fin; but at a short distance from this union there is a deep 

 notch, from Avhich it passes on in a narrower form. The pec- 

 toral is large and round; ventrals close under the throat, small, 

 with two or three obscure rays. The colour is a chesnut 

 brown, lighter on the belly; some Avhite marks between the 

 eyes, and white dots on the belly; anal fin with a red border. 

 The surface of the body is studded with circular depressions, 

 which were observed with a microscope by the late Professor 

 Quekett, and found to be formed of small round scales, each 

 about the twelfth of an inch in diameter, of a white colour, 

 and with a very small black spot in the middle. They are 

 placed deep in the skin, and in some situations stand at regular 

 distances. 



VOL II. 2 1 



