mtller's thumr. 



and after liim AVillou^-hby, represent tlio female as heeoniing 

 much distended with spawn, Avliich ^ll(■ collects into little 

 lumps on her breast, -where it is covered \\ itli a black membrane 

 until it is hatched. On the otlier hand Linnaeus says that she 

 forms a nest on the "-round, to -svhich Fleming adds that it 

 is made of a hole in the gravel, and there she broods over 

 it until they are produced to life. Blumenback's representation 

 is, that it keeps -watch over its nest. This species retains 

 life for many hours after it is taken from the Avatcr. It is 

 esteemed as food in those countries -where very small fishes 

 are not disregarded. 



It grows to the length of three or four inches; the head 

 large, broad, and depressed; the front round, s-svelling at the 

 checks, -with a crooked spine lo-w on the gill-cover. Ja-ws 

 equal, -with very small teeth; eyes small, high on tlu; head, 

 -with a depression obliquely before them. The body smooth, 

 tapering from the origin of the first dorsal fin to the tail. 

 The lateral line almost straight. The first dorsal fin begins a 

 little behind the root of the pectorals, and is low, -with an 

 oval outline; the second dorsal near the first, and passing on 

 close to the tail, -which is round; anal fin not quite so long 

 as the second dorsal; pectorals large, the rays bearing out 

 the membrane; ventral fins small; the rays of all the fins soft 

 and flexible. Colour, on a ground of dusky yellow, dark 

 bands or spots, in which the fins partake; white below. 



