Miscellaneous. 387 



into a tank of the aquarium. When, after the lapse of fourteen 

 and even eight and twenty hours, I have brought them back to 

 within a short distance from their abode, they have always found 

 it again. I have taken a male watching over his offspring and set 

 him at liberty forthwith, at a distance of 12 metres from the float- 

 ing plank in which he had established his nest ; this plank was 

 surrounded by a large number of others, pointing in all directions 

 and immersed at different levels ; nevertheless, after a certain time, 

 ho was back again at his post. Another male, jDlaced in the same 

 conditions, was transported to a distance of 28 metres from his nest, 

 and returned to it an hoar and a half afterwards. A third, in order 

 to return to his ova, was obliged to cross the pool, which is 50 metres 

 wide. These facts, and others besides which I shall shortly publish, 

 indicate in Blennms sphijnx a very great development of memory 

 and an attachment to his ova which is quite remarkable. 



If sand, gravel, shells, or objects of any kind be introduced into 

 his dwelling or placed so as to block up his door, the male removes 

 them to a distance by carrying them in his mouth. 



He always enters his hole backwai'ds, first introducing into it the 

 extremity of his tail, upon which he proceeds to haul by bending it 

 60 as to gain a hold upon the walls of his dwelling. He savagely 

 pursues the shrimps, which infallibly devour his ova if he ia 

 imprudent enough to leave them too long. He also furiously 

 chases the fish which pass near his hole, especially the other males, 

 and follows and bites them, if they do not flee to a sufficient 

 distance. 



To witness a battle it is not necessary to await the advent of 

 another male. As a matter of fact, if we take a mirror and alter- 

 nately bring it near to and withdraw it from the guardian of a nest, 

 we easily succeed in convincing him that he is attacked by one of 

 his fellows ; he then issues from his retreat, and flies at his own 

 image, striking his snout violently against the mirror, and docs not 

 cease until his imaginary adversary is withdrawn. 



Blennius Montagui is very abundant at Banyuls-sur-Mer. It is 

 easily captured with the hand on searching the clefts of rocks at no 

 great depth, which are clothed with shore sea-weeds. My observa- 

 tions, made in April 18!J2, were conducted upon specimens living in 

 captivity in a tank of the aquarium at the Arago laboratory. 



The male, like that of Blennius sphyacc, is alone burdened with 

 the care of the ova. He establishes his nest beneath a stone which 

 is hollowed out on the underside. 



When a gravid female passes near his domicile, he darts towards 

 her, agitates his whole body very rapidly in order to attract her 

 attention, and even brushes her with the tip of his snout ; if he is 

 unsuccessful he returns to his nest : he constantly raises and lowers 

 the whole anterior portion of his body, and sways at the same time 

 to the right and left ; then he returns towards the female, and 

 excites her afresh. If the latter allows herself to be tempted, she 

 enters the nest with him, turns over with her ventral side up[»er- 

 most, and deposits her ova on the roof of the nest, in a layer which 

 rovers a large area of it. 



