laE ViVlPAROtS BLENNt* J 95 



'7'he Viviparous Ble?iny 



X HE viviparous blenny In Its mode of generation, dif" 

 fers from the whole order of fpinous fifties, in producing 

 living young. In confequence of this, its habits muft be 

 confiderably different. Impregnation muft take place 

 within the body of the female, who, like mofl other vi- 

 viparous animals, probably is diftlnguiftied by parental 

 affection for her brood, which generally confifta of two 

 or three hundred. The feafon of her parturition is s 

 little after the depth of winter 5 before impregnation by 

 the male, the eggs are fmall, and of a whitlfli colour ; af- 

 ter that period they are gradually increafed in fize, and af» 

 fume a red appearance. By and by they acquire an oblong 

 fliape, and two black fpots begin to announce the rudi- 

 ments of the head and eyes ; after this the belly and 

 vifcera begin to appear : they are covered with a milky 

 pellucid membrane, through which the inteftincs are 

 feen : Laft of all, the tail becomes difcernible, like a fmall 

 thread, bending towards the extremity. 



During the whole time of geftation, the abdomen of 

 the female is greatly diftended, not only by the young 

 brood, but alfo by a white muddy fubftance, which pro- 

 bably fupplies the nafcent family with food. As the period 

 of parturition approaches, this liquid gradually diminifhe2 

 in quantity, till, upon the young attaining their full iize, 

 B b 2 \i 



f Muft?la mariiia vivipara, Schon. Bknnius vlvipatus, Lin. Syi^. 



