DOMESTIC HABITS OF BUTTER FISH. 137 



XVI. 



DOMESTIC HABITS OF BUTTERFISH (Blennivs 

 Gunnellus, Linn.). 



BY W. AXDERSOX SMITH. 



[Read Gith April, 1SS5.] 



Before entering upon a few particulars respecting 

 this little Ush, whose sword-shaped body, with rows 

 of large, dark spots on the sides, is one of the com- 

 monest objects of the sea-shoie, I will bring together 

 what appears to be known of it at present. 



Dr. Day, our latest authority, seems to have 

 advanced not a step beyond Couch in his knowledge 

 of this fish's habits, which seems remarkable, in view 

 of its extremely common character, and wide range 

 in temperate climes. Couch says : " Nilsson says its 

 spawn is shed in November, but it is probable that 

 the season holds through the summer. In the first 

 week in June, Mr. Peach, who then resided at Fowey, 

 discovered the grains of what there seems to be no 

 room for doubting to be the spawn of the Butter- 

 fish attached to the under-surface of a stone in the 

 harbour of that port, with the supposed parent near 

 it; and with a microscope a considerable progress 

 was rendered evident in the development of the 

 embryo fish, as i^romising a speedy birth with 

 resemblance to the sui)posed parent." 



This is all we are anywhere told, apparently, of the 

 time of spawning of the Butter fish, and I cannot 

 help believing that this little is entirely wrong. It 

 would be an equal error for me to declare that the 

 Butterfish never s^jawiis in November, but if it does 

 do so, it is entirely without my experience ; and I 

 cannot believe that in Norway or Sweden, where the 



