BLENNY. 269 



East Lincolnshire fen. The flesh is very delicate. The 

 largest with us do not exceed the weight of two or three 

 pounds. This is a very voracious fish, and its appearance 

 is extremely forbidding. 



THE BLENNY. 



There are several species of this genus ; all distinguished 

 by having six bones in the membrane of the gills, the fore- 

 part of the head sloping, the body smooth and slippery, 

 and the ventral fins generally consisting of two united 

 rays. It will be sufficient here to notice only two, the gat- 

 torugine and the viviparous. 



THE GATTORUGINE BLENNY. 



This curious species is about seven inches and a half 

 long : the body is smooth, and compressed on the sides ; 

 the belly is a little prominent ; and the teeth are so small 

 and thick-set that they appear almost setaceous. Between 

 the eyes is a slight depression ; and above each, exactly 

 in the summit, a narrow loose membrane, trifurcated at 

 the top. The colour is dusky, marked across with wavy 

 lines ; the belly is of a light cinereous hue ; and the lower 

 part of the pectoral fins, as well as the extremities of the 

 ventral, is of a fine orange colour. This fish is found in 

 several of the European seas. 



THE VIVIPAROUS BLENNY. 



This singular species generally brings forth two or three 

 hundred at a time, early in the spring ; which before Mid- 

 summer quit the bays and shores, and retire to the deep. 

 The flesh is very coarse, and eaten only by the poor. 



Viviparous blennies are common in the river Esk, as well 

 as at Whitby, in Yorkshire, and some other parts of Eng- 

 land. They are sometimes caught about a foot long. Their 

 form is slender, and the backbone is green. 



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