THE BLENNIES AND THEIR ALLIES 



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the single dorsal having its spinous and soft portions of nearly equal length; the 

 anal being nearly equal in length to the soft dorsal, and the pel vies thoracic in 

 position, with one spine and five rays. The compressed and oblong body is scaled, 

 the cleft of the mouth lateral, and the teeth are weak. All the members of the 

 family are small littoral fishes, inhabiting both sides of the Northern Pacific; the 

 figured species (Chirus hexagrammus) being from Japanese waters. In the other 

 genera the lateral line is single. 



The fourth family of the group {Blenniidce) is much more extensive 

 than either of the others, comprising a considerable number of genera, 

 some of which are rich in species. The family agrees with the hairy backs in the 

 jugular position of the pelvic fins, which, when present at all, are composed of a 

 very few soft rays. In the anal fin, the spines are few or wanting, and there is 

 very generally a papilla in the neighborhood of the vent. The low and elongate 



Blennies 



JAPANESE CHIRUS. 



body is more or less cylindrical in form, and either naked or covered with scales, 

 which are generally of small size. The dorsal fin, which may be either single, dou- 

 ble, or triple, occupies nearly the whole length of the back; and when it has a dis- 

 tinct spinous portion, this is at least as much developed as the soft part, while in 

 some instances the whole fin may be spiny; the anal being elongate. In most cases 

 false gills are present. All the marine members of the family are littoral forms, and 

 the majority are of small size, while some are among the smallest of all fishes. 

 They are abundant throughout all tropical and temperate seas; and whereas some 

 forms inhabit brackish water, others are exclusively fresh water. Dr. Giinther 

 writes that ' ' one of the principal characteristics of the blennies is the ventral [pel- 

 vic] fin, which is formed by less than five rays, and has a jugular position. The 

 blennies have this in common with many gadoids [cod tribe] , and it is sometimes 

 difficult to decide to which of these two families a fish should be referred. In such 



