256 BY THE DEEP SEA. 



me, and as I look down through the shallow water I see five 

 slender cylinders protruding like the barrels of tiny rifles from 

 an ambuscade. Couch makes the extraordinary statement 

 that, " observation seems to show that it is not able to raise 

 itself above the ground, on which it creeps in its endeavours 

 to escape being caught, with a serpentine motion much like 

 that of a slow-worm." Observation in my case serves to 

 controvert Couch. It certainly prefers to remain under 

 stones, and it is not constructed as a constant swimmer; 

 but it does swim for short lengths in its pursuit of minute 

 crustaceans, and can be very active when it pleases. 



There are other blennies in the pool besides that one called 

 the Smooth Blenny or Shanny, and among those that we 

 fancy are young Shannies we may chance to find Montagu's 

 Blenny (Btennius gaieritci], a species easily distinguished by 

 a crimson crest with fringed edges, which it erects on its head 

 just above the eyes. Its tail and its pectoral fins, too, are 

 tinged with crimson. Another Blenny, though by no means 

 so likely to be found generally distributed along the coast is 

 the striking Butterfly Blenny (Blennius ocellaris). It is much 

 like the Shanny, but with larger and more rounded pectoral 

 fins, and a much higher dorsal fin. This fin is the feature 

 that at once enables us to identify the Butterfly among 

 Blennies. It is often divided by one or two depressions, so 

 that it appears to be two or three fins ; but the important sign 

 is a large deep blue spot surrounded by a light ring over the 

 centre of the body. This eye-spot gives it the specific name 

 ocellaris. It should also be noted that the first ray of this 

 dorsal fin is considerably longer than the membranous portion 

 of the fin. The colour of the fish is olive mottled with brown, 

 but of course it varies considerably like the species we have 

 already described. Ocellaris has two little crests upon its 

 head similar to Montagu's Blenny, and the Tompot as 

 afterwards mentioned. 



In the illustration of the Butterfly Blenny there is a portrait 



