BLENNIES. 497 



One species {C. niaculatus) from the Atlantic coasts of 

 North America. 



Pat^CUS. — Body oblong, elevated anteriorly ; snout short, 

 with sub-vertical anterior profile ; minute teeth in the jaws and 



Fig. 227. — Patecus fronto. 



on the vomer. Dorsal fin with the anterior spines strong and 

 long, continuous with tlie caudal ; ventrals none. Gill-openings 

 wide. 



Three species of this singular form are known from South 

 and West Australia. 



ZoARCES. — Body elongate, witli the scales rudimentary ; 

 conical teeth in the jaws. Dorsal fin long, witli a depression on 

 the tail, which is formed by a series of spines much sliorter than 

 the rays. No other fin-spines. No separate caudal fin. Ven- 

 trals short, formed by three or four rays. Gill-openings wide. 



Two species are known, one from the European, and the 

 other from the North American side of the Atlantic. The 

 former, Z. viviparus, is well knowm by the name of "Viviparous 

 Blenny;" as is signified by this name it produces its young 

 alive. These are so matured at the time of their birth that 

 on their first exclusion they swim about with the utmost 

 agility. No fewer than from two to three hundred young 

 are sometimes produced by one female, and the abdomen of 

 the mother is so distended before parturition that it is impos- 

 sible to touch it without causing them to be extruded. Full 

 grown individuals are about twelve inches long, but the 



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