38 MARVELS OF FISH LIFE 



their enemies from attacking them. The cottus, or 

 father-lasher, when alarmed spreads out his large 

 pectoral fin, erects the fins on his back, and puffs out 

 his cheeks. The fin rays terminate in sharp spines, and 

 the gill-covers are also armed. The cottus would be an 

 uncomfortable mouthful, and is in consequence left alone. 

 Alongside the cottus, in the sea, is found a soft, slimy, 

 defenceless fish, the blenny. The blenny, when attacked, 

 assumes an attitude quite as ferocious in appearance as 

 the cottus, and as he is not specially active, nor excep- 

 tionally protected by colour or markings, we may fairly 

 assume that this ferocious attitude deceives his enemies, 

 and assists in his escape. 



