156 BLENNIOIDS. 



exterior teeth, ossification extends along the Hgamentous base of 

 the matrix and they are thus fixed, as in the pharyngeal teeth of 

 the barbel and many other fishes, by continuous anchylosis to the 

 substance of the supporting bones ; but it is peculiar to the Lophius 

 to have this process arrested in certain teeth, which continue to be 

 attached by elastic fibres instead of osseous piles, whereby the 

 ordinary prehensile and destructive armature of the mouth is 

 rendered still more effective by the additional mechanism of a 

 spring-trap. 



An exterior view of the maxillary teeth in situ is given by Mr. 

 Yarrell, at p. 274, vol. 1, of his excellent work on British Fishes ; I 

 have figured a portion of the anterior part of the left premandibular 

 bone and teeth, of the natural size, viewed from within, at PL 56, 

 fig. 1 ; the second tooth of the inner row is represented as bent 

 backwards, and the elastic ligaments at the inner side of the base 

 are shortened and curved by the pressure ; the dotted line shows 

 the ordinary position to which the tooth is returned by the resiliency 

 of the ligaments when the bending force is removed. Some of the 

 shorter, inflexible exterior teeth are shown at a a; and the larger, 

 moveable, inner teeth at b b. 



The smaller species of Lophioids, forming the genera Antennarius, 

 MaltTicea and Halieutaa, have the teeth reduced to the rasp-like or 

 villous character, and in the latter genus, which includes the Lophius 

 muricatus of Shaw, the palatines and vomer are smooth and eden- 

 tulous. 



BLENNIOIDS. 



61. The fishes of this family, like those of the preceding, have no 

 common condition of the dental system. The Blennies {Blennius, 

 Cuv.) present a close-set single row of long, fixed teeth, of which one 

 is commonly more developed than the rest, and stands up, like a canine 

 tooth, at the posterior extremity of each semi-circular series : there 

 are no palatal or lingual teeth ; those of the pharyngeal bones are 

 similar to the maxillary teeth, but are moveable and disposed in 

 two pectinated rows. In the Blennechis nncylodon the number of 



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