ACANTHOFTERYGir. 177 



of Europe and throughout the Norths it has long been recog- 

 nized as viviparous. 



Z. labrosus, Cuv. ; Bl. labrosus, Mitch, op. cit. I, 1, 7. A 

 much larger American species which is three feet and more in 

 lengthj it is of an olive colour, sprinkled with brown spots. 



Anarrhichas, Lm.(l) 



So very similar are these fishes to the Blenny, that I would willingly 

 name them Blennies without ventrals. The dorsal fin entirely com- 

 posed of simple, but not stiff rays, commences at the nape of the 

 neck, and extends, as well as the anal, close to that of the tail, which 

 is rounded, as well as the pectorals. Their whole body is smooth 

 and slimy. Their palatine bones, vomer and mandibles, are armed 

 with stout, bony tubercles, surmounted with small enamelled teeth, 

 the anterior ones however are longer and more conical. This mode 

 of dentition furnishes them with powerful weapons, which, added 

 to their great size, render them ferocious and dangerous. 



^. lupus^ L. BL, 74 (The Sea- Wolf), is the most common spe- 

 ciesj it inhabits northern seas, and is frequently seen on the 

 coast of Europe; six or seven feet long; brown, with clouded 

 bands of deep brown; the flesh resembling that of an eel. This 

 fish is valuable to the Icelanders, who salt and dry the flesh for 

 food, employ the skin as shagreen, and the gall as soap.(2) The 



GoBius, Lin. 



Commonly called Gobies or Sea-Gudgeons, are instantly recognized 

 by the union of their thoracic ventrals, either along the whole of 

 their length, or at least at their base, forming a single hollow disk 

 more or less infundibuliform. The spines of the dorsal are flexible, 

 the branchial apertures provided with five rays only, and generally 

 but slightly open. Like the Blennies, they can live for some time 

 out of water, their stomach has no cul-de-sac, and the intestinal ca- 

 nal is not furnished with caeca; finally, the males have the same 

 little appendage behind the anus, and some species are known to be 

 viviparous. They are small or moderate sized fishes, which live 



(1) Anarrhichas, Climber, a name invented by Gesner (Paralipomen, p. 1261,) 

 because this fish is said to climb upon rocks and shoals by the aid of its fins and 

 tail. 



(2) The petrified teeth of this fish have been considered as constituting Bufo- 

 nites, but they have neither their form nor tissue. 



Add the .^narr. minor, Olafsen., Voy. en Isl. Fr. Trans., pi. L. 

 Vol. II.— X 



