OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 137 



among the spirit-preserved series in the Day Collection. 

 The Smooth Blenny, which is the commonest of all these 

 forms, occurs abundantly in rock-pools between tide-marks 

 all around our coasts, and is remarkable as a species that 

 will voluntarily leave the water in the pools and bask on 

 the rocks in the sunshine, hurriedly tumbling or scrambling 

 into its native element again on the sound of approaching 

 footsteps, or other cause of alarm. The spawning habits 

 of this fish, as witnessed by the writer in connection with 

 examples acclimatised in the Manchester Aquarium, proved 

 highly interesting, certain of the phenomena observed 

 demonstrating the possession by the male, at least, of an 

 amount of attachment and sagacity rarely if ever previously 

 recorded of fish life. In a tank containing some forty or 

 fifty examples of this Blenny, a pair had selected a narrow 

 ledge, high up on one side, for the purpose of a nursery. 

 The eggs were deposited in a single layer upon the ledge, 

 first by one and subsequently by a second female, the species 

 being thus shown to be polygamous. The male had mean- 

 while undergone a wonderful colour transformation, much 

 after the manner of the male of the Black Bream (Cantharus 

 lineatus), previously described. All the gay mottlings of yellow 

 and brown that usually characterise the species had given way 

 to a uniform tint of deep sooty black, the large, prominent 

 lips alone remaining nearly white, his appearance under such 

 circumstances being particularly ferocious and forbidding. 

 Thus attired he now mounted guard over the female fish and 

 eggs, his self-appointed task, as presently seen, proving no 

 sinecure. The discovery was soon made, in fact, by the 

 other members of the community, that Blennies' eggs were 

 a choice gastronomic delicacy, and thenceforward our little 

 friend was scarcely allowed an interval of peace. While 

 one fish was being repulsed in front, another descended upon 



