FISHES. 491 



gill covers smooth on the margins ; mouth small ; no bar- 

 bules. May be distinguished by the dark longitudinal lines 

 which run along the sides, and the large hard stout scales. 



36. MTJGIL CAPITO, Cuv. Gra Multe. The Grey Mullet. D. 



Is met with on the coast of Bergen at all seasons of 

 the year, but not elsewhere in these seas. Length 

 often 2 ft. ; colour bottle green ; lighter on the sides, 

 which, are streaked with about seven longitudinal dark 

 lines. D. 4 + 1,7 ; A. 2,10 ; P. 17 ; Y. 1,5 ; C. 19. 



37. M. CHELO, Cuv. Tjock Liippad Multe. The Short 



Grey Mullet; the Thick-lipped Mullet. 

 Is taken both on the south-west coast of Norway, 

 where it is said to remain throughout the year, and also 

 off Bohus Land, in the south-west of Sweden, where, 

 according to Ekstrom, it is more common of late years. 

 It is so like the last that it is doubtful whether it can 

 be considered a distinct species. It is, however, smaller 

 in all its proportions, but the principal difference con- 

 sists in the different shape of the gill covers and mouth. 

 The latter, instead of, as in the grey mullet, being hard 

 and not swelled, is in this fish swelled, fleshy, and soft. 

 When seen from below the edges of the gill covers do 

 not, in M. capito, hide the space under the tongue; 

 in M. chelo they do. But, as Dr. Giinther observes, 

 " the lateral view of the head alone is a just representa- 

 tion of the fish described/' 



Fam. 9. BLENNIOIDEI. 



Body slimy ; scales very small, or altogether absent ; one 

 or two dorsals, with single rays, sometimes weak, sometimes 

 stiff and pointed ; head short ; forehead sloping. 



All small dull-coloured sea fish, living on the bottom. 



1. Ventrals apart, small; few or no rays. Tanglakar, Sw. 



Gen. Pholis, Mem. 



Forehead smooth, without tubercles ; body covered with 

 a slimy skin ; no scales ; one long dorsal and anal fin ; pec- 



