258 THE OARED OTMNETRUS. 



even by the shock of repeated waves. It is quite a little fish, not more than lour inches in 

 length. Its residence is in the seas of the East Indian Archipelago. At least fifty species of 

 .the Salarias are known to zoologists. 



The Btjtter-fish, Swordick, or Spotted Gunnel (Centronbtus gunellus), belongs to 

 this family, and is evidently one of the transitional species between the true blennies and those 

 which are placed at the end of the family. 



This fish is frequently captured, especially on the rocky shores, and is mostly found 

 hidden under stones and sea- weeds in the rock-pools left by the receding tide. The name of 

 Butter-fish is very appropriate, and is given to it on account of the plentiful mucous secretion 

 which is poured over its body, and winch renders it so slippery that it can with difficulty be 

 retained in the hand. It is quick and agile in its movements, and even if confined within the 

 limits of the rocky pool is not easily captured. 



The body of tins fish is much elongated and somewhat eel-shaped, the head is small, the 

 muzzle Id nut, and the dorsal fin is low and long, extending the whole length of the back. 

 The ventral fins are very small. 'Die color of the Swordick is brown, in some specimens with 

 a purple and in others with a golden wash. Along the base of the dorsal fin, and in some 

 individuals upon the tin itself, are a number of bold, black spots, each with a white streak on 

 either side. A dark- brown stripe is also drawn from the eye to the lower jaw. The length of 

 the Butter-fish is about six inches. 



Our last example of tins family is the well-known Viviparous Blenny, called also by 

 the popular names of Eel-pout, Lumper, Guffer, and Greenbone, the last-mentioned title 

 being given to it because, when boiled, the bones have a green hue. It is illustrated, with the 

 Lump-fish, on page 254. 



As its name imports, the Viviparous Blenny lays no spawn, but produces its young alive, 

 and able to shift for themselves. In one case, where a female fish of about fifteen inches in 

 length was taken, the young were about four inches long. It is a very curious fact, that the 

 size of tlie new-born young seems to depend upon that of their parent, the offspring of a 

 Blenny of seven inches in length measuring only one inch and a half. 



The flesh of this fish is tolerably good, but is not in very great repute, so that it is but 

 seldom to be seen in the markets. It generally hides itself under stones or sea-weed, prefer- 

 ring the large, heavy algse, called tang. 



The body of this iisli tapers gradually from the shoulders to the tail, in thickness as well 

 as in depth, and when examined with a pocket magnifier, the surface appears to be studded 

 with circular depressions. Its general color is pale brown, and its length varies between six 

 and sixteen inches. 



Passing by several small families, we come to a very curious fish, denominated the 

 Riband-shaped Vaagmar, sometimes called the Deal-fish (Trachypterus drcticus). 



This singular fish is remarkable for the extreme compression of the body, a specimen 

 three feet in length not being thicker than an ivory paper-knife. The dorsal fin of this fish 

 extends completely along the back ; there is no anal fin, and the tail fin stands boldly erect, 

 like the closed tail-feathers of a fan-tail pigeon. The general color of the Vaagmar is silvery- 

 white, and the body is covered with very small scales. The dorsal fin is bright orange, some- 

 times being of a- blood-red, and the tail fin is of the same hue. On each side are two oval 

 spots of blackish-gray, set obliquely on the body. The length of this fish often reaches 



six feet. 



It is one of the northern fishes. 



A species even still more remarkable is, on very rare occasions, obtained on the North 

 Sea; but, owing to the extreme fragility of its structure, it is mostly deficient iu some of its 

 parts. Our picture of this creature is remarkably true to nature. 



The Oared Gymnetrus, or Ribbon-fish (Regalecus bariksii), as it is called, is also 



