19^ THE Viviparous blennt. 



it almofl wholly difappears, as if confutned by the nu- 

 merous race which it has fupportcd *. 



When the foetus have acquired nearly their complete 

 fize, they creep from place to place in the uterus, as if 

 attempting to difengage themfelves from a Hate of con- 

 linement, which is now no longer neceflary : after par- 

 turition, they are immediately capable of fwimming and 

 following the mother ; and of fupporting life by the fame 

 movements of the mouth and gills. 



The young of the viviparous blenn;y, at their firft ap-» 

 pearance, are about two inches long ; when full fized, 

 they are nearly a foot. Their flefli is extremely coarfc, 

 andunfavory ; it is ate chiefly by the poor, who fometimes 

 take them in their pregnant ftate ; and leaft their nume- 

 rous young when drefl'ed, fliould adhere to their knife ov 

 fingers, they take the female, before boiling, and ftrip 

 her of her young, by pafling the hand along the belly. 

 Several of thefe fifli are caught in the river Z/e, in T'oy'!- 

 Jlnre^ by throwing lines from the top of the bridge f . 



* Willough. p. xa3. 



t BritUh Zoology, dafs 4. genus 20. 



