ACANTHOPTERYGII. 205 



MUGIL, Linnceus. 



These fishes present so many peculiarities in their organisation, that they 

 may be considered as forming a distinct family ; their body is almost cylin- 

 drical, covered with large scales, and furnished with two separate dorsals, the 

 first of which has but four spinous rays; the ventrals are inserted a little 

 behind the pectorals. There are six rays in the branchiae ; their head is 

 somewhat depressed, and covered with large scales or polygonal plates, their 

 muzzle very short. Their transverse mouth, in consequence of a prominence 

 in the middle of the lower jaw, which corresponds with a depression in the 

 upper one, forms an angle, the teeth being excessively tenuous, and frequently 

 almost imperceptible. 



They resort to the mouths of rivers in large troops, and are continually 

 leaping out of the water ; the European seas produce several species hitherto 

 very imperfectly ascertained ; their flesh is esteemed. 



M. cephalus, Cuv. (The Common Mullet.) Distinguished from all the 

 other species of Europe by its eyes, which are half covered by two adipose 

 veils, adhering to the anterior and posterior edge of the orbit. 



There are two other genera, Tetragonurus and Atherina (the Aphyes of the 

 ancients). 



FAMILY XII. 



GOBIOIDES. 



THE Gobioides are known by the length and tenuity of the dorsal spines. 



BLENNIUS, Linnceus. 



Blennies have a strongly marked character in the ventral fins, which are 

 placed before the pectorals, and consist of only two rays. 

 The body is elongated and compressed, and has but a 

 single dorsal almost entirely composed of simple but 

 flexible rays. They live in small troops among the 

 rocks on the coast, leaping and playing, and are capable 

 of living without water for some time. A slimy mucus 



is smeared over their skin, to which they owe their Greek name of Blennius. 



They are now distributed in various subgenera, such as Myxodes, Salarius, 



Clinus, &c. 



ANARRHICHAS, Linnceus*. 



So very similar are these fishes to the Blenny, that I would willingly name 

 them Blennies without ventrals. 



* Anarrhichas, Climber, a name invented by Gesner, because this fish is said to climb 

 upon rocks and shoals by the aid of its fins and tail. 



