CHESTED BLENNY. 237 



ing a transverse union, passing in its passage over the fore- 

 head, which is prominent ; behind these two small appendages 

 are two other tentacula, one on each side, about twice the 

 length of the anterior pair, and also fimbriated. On the 

 nape of the neck, and for some distance towards the com- 

 mencement of the dorsal fin, the skin is smooth, with the 

 exception of various small papillae, as noticed by Dr. Flem- 

 ing ; the eyes lateral, large for the size of the head, but not 

 so large by comparison as those of the other Blennies. 



The dorsal fin commences three-eighths of an inch behind 

 the last pair of tentacula ; it is uniform in height throughout, 

 and reaches to the tail ; the first ray a little shorter than the 

 second ; the first three rays with membranous filaments, as 

 described by Dr. Fleming. The membrane connecting the 

 first four rays darker in colour than the other parts of the 

 fin ; the points of all the rays projecting beyond the edge 

 of the connecting membrane ; the last dorsal fin-ray united 

 to the tail by an intervening membrane ; all the rays 

 simple. 



The ventral fins, only three-sixteenths of an inch in length, 

 are placed rather before the pectorals, and are supported 

 by three rays, ascertained by carefully dissecting off the 

 investing membrane on one side. The pectoral fins are 

 rounded when spread, pointed when closed, the middle 

 rays being the longest, and extending over two-thirds of 

 the space between the edge of the operculum and the com- 

 mencement of the anal fin. The vent is placed immedi- 

 ately in advance of the anal fin, which in length is equal to 

 half the length of the whole fish ; the first anal fin-ray 

 shorter than the second, the others are as long as those of the 

 dorsal fin, but the ends project further, the connecting mem- 

 brane not being so deep. 



The tail is rounded, or rather slightly lanceolate, the 



