662 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



months. The habits are fully described by Storer in the Fishes 

 of Massachusetts. The eggs adhere to stones in shallow water. 

 By the end of August the young have reached a length of about 

 one inch. The nest and young are guarded by the parent fish. 

 The species is not an attractive one, and though the flesh is 

 sweet and palatable it is rarely eaten. To the fishermen this is 

 one of the worst nuisances in our waters, since it is always ready 

 to take the hook and swallow the bait intended for more useful 

 fish. In Great South bay the toadfish was taken at the mouth 

 of Swan creek and in Blue Point cove late in September. Young 

 individuals were collected September 10 at the Blue Point Life- 

 saving station. 



In 1898 the toadfish was again found abundantly in Great 

 South bay in August and September. They are distributed in 

 all portions of the bay, except where the water is nearly fresh. 

 In 1901 the eggs were found upon the point of hatching in the 

 middle of July and in the month oi August. On July 16, a lot 

 of embryos measuring from 1% to -H of an iuch were ob- 

 tained. The eggs adhere firmly to the bark of stakes, or the 

 under surf ace of sunken wood, stones, or any other heavy sub- 

 stance wliich will answer the purpose of concealment. 



Thr (oiidlish is not present in Gravesend bay in the hot sum- 

 mer iiHMiilis. Most of the individuals taken were caught in 

 August, September and October. It is possible to keep it in 

 captivity duiiiig (he summer months by careful management. 



Group BLENNIOIDEI 



BlentvyliJce Fishes 

 Family blennhdae 

 Blewnies 

 Genus ble:nnius (Artedi) Linnaeus 

 I^hI.v oblong, compressed, naked; head short, the profile 

 iisnally hliintly rounded; mouth small, horizontal, with a single 

 series of h.ng, slender, curved, close set teeth in each jaw, 

 besides whieh, in the lower jaw at least, is a rather short and 

 Hlcui fan-like canine tooth on each side; premaxillaries not 

 protra-ni,.; oil] openings wide, extending forward below, the , 



