2l8 THE CAPE KLIP=FlSnES. 



tanks in which Klip-Iish were kept, and recently a chance was- 

 afforded of unmistakably noting- their origin, as a specimen of 

 C. siiperciliosus gave birth to 24 young ones in one of the smaller 

 tanks in which there were no other fish. These young Klip-fish 

 were almost transparent and swam freely about near the surface- 

 below the inlet pipe, their rapid movements in the water making 

 them difficult to keep under observation. At this stage, not only 

 were they protected by the absence of colour, as in the case of 

 most young fish, but they had well-developed air bladders which 

 enabled them to swim freely near the surface. The adults of all 

 the Klip-fish group, and of the Blenny family generally, are devoid 

 of an air bladder and cannot readily swim about for any prolonged 

 time without occasionally resting on the ground or on rock, 

 weed, etc., for which their neutral fins and sometimes some at 

 least of the rays of the anal fin are specially modified. 



Economically the Cape Klip-fish have long been w^ell-known ; 

 more than 200 years ago Kolbe recorded how eagerly the burghers 

 of Cape Town bought them from the Hottentot fishermen, and 

 Astly, Barrow, le Vaillant and others have drawn attention to 

 the merits of "Klepvis." We have no knowledge of the parti- 

 cular species they referred to, for the name " Klip-fish " is applied^- 

 generally to all the members of the CUttidae ; it is more especially 

 understood, however, as belonging to a group of about four 

 species, of which the best-known and most widely diffused is 

 C. siiperciliosus. In the Cape Peninsula this species is in the best 

 condition and most abundant during the winter months. May to 

 August, but all the year round the rockpools of the shoreline 

 seem to hold their quota — one of the most prolific spots being 

 the " Kommetje." 



C. superciliosus seems to be the only species of the Clinidae in- 

 which the height of the dorsal crest has any sexual significance. 

 In the male the height is about twice as great as in the female 

 and equals three-fourths to four-fifths the length of the head ; 

 the crest is formed by the irregular lengthening' of the first three 

 spines, and though quite distinct is not separated from the rest 

 of the fin, the connecting membrane being attached fairly low 

 down near tlie base of the fourth spine ; when not in use it lies 

 back along the fin. In the female the crest, besides being lower — 

 not exceeding half the length of the head — is more rounded in 

 shape and there is generally a dark oval spot on the membrane 

 connecting the second and third spines. The colouring of this 

 species is on the whole brilliant and diversified, ranging from 

 sober browns to vivid tints of red, green, orange and_purple, with 

 kaleidoscopic combinations of spots, blotches, bands and lines; 

 as a rule there are reticulated markings on the head and cheeks 

 and more or less well-defined irregular bands, about six in num- 

 ber, cross the body and extend on to the dorsal fin. 



Further observations may show the disability of classifying 

 some forms now included under C. superciliosus under one or 

 more sub-species ot varieties, especially in view of the occurrence 

 of many strongly-marked specimens, sexually mature but of 

 diminutive size and slightly different in shape. 



