TION. 



284 VIVIPAROUS BLENNY. Class IV. 



and retires into the deep, where it is commonly 

 taken. It is a very coarse fish, and eat only 

 by the poor. It is common in the mouth of 

 the river Esk, at Whitby, Yorkshire ; where it 

 is taken frequently from off the bridge. 

 Descrip- It sometimes grows to the length of a foot. 

 The form slender; the skin smooth and slip- 

 pery ; the teeth very minute and sharp ; the 

 upper lip thin and skinny. The dorsal fin com- 

 mences just behind the head, and joins with 

 that of the tail ; but near the tail, the rays are 

 short, so as to form the appearance of a divi- 

 sion ; the pectoral fins rounded ; the ventral 

 consist of only four short rays j the anal extends 

 far, and unites with the tail ; the tail is round. 

 The dorsal fin, back, and sides, are of a yellow- 

 ish brown, stained with dusky spots and lines ; 

 the end of the tongue, the chin, throat, and anal 

 fin of a fine yellow; the back-bone is green, 

 like that of a sea-needle. 



