231 



MONTAGU'S BLENNY. 



Blennius galerita, LiNN^Us. Jenyns; Manual, p. 381. 



" " GuNTHER; Cat. Br. Animals, p. 222. 



" Montagtd, Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 206. 



" " Yakrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 249. 



There is much confusion in the synonyms of this species, 

 but the opinion of Dr. Gunther is that the fish now represented 

 and described is the true B. galerita of Linnseus and of 

 Montagu, and that the difference of description by Fleming 

 and others applies only to some casual variation of structure. 

 Yet we are desirous of retaining the common English name of 

 this fish, in memory of the indefatigable Montagu who first 

 discovered it in Britain, and also because the designation of 

 Crested Blenny has been appropriated to another species. 



Montagu's Blenny is found further to the south than the 

 Shanny, being known in the Island of Madeira, as also in the 

 Mediterranean, and even in the Black Sea; but it is less 

 common than that species even in its appropriate limits, and 

 it is rare in the north of Britain. Nor does it often, like the 

 Shanny, seek shelter in a hole so as to continue out of the 

 water, and its more frequent haunts are in pools of the rocks, 

 where a crevice affords it a convenient hiding place. It takes 

 a bait, but less eagerly than the Shanny, 



This species probably is the fish, or one of them, that is 

 mentioned by Belon as being employed as a bait for shore 

 lines in catching the larger fishes; but with us the species of 

 this family are not employed for any useful purpose. 



Montagu's Blenny is best described by comparison with the 

 Common Shanny, to which it bears considerable likeness, 

 although it never reaches beyond half or two thirds the size. 

 The form is also somewhat more slender, and the head less 

 heavy; but the more remarkable difference, and that which 



