492 FISHES. 



Fourth Family — Blenniid^. 



Body elongate, loio, more or less cylindrical, naked or covered 

 with scales, ivJiich generally are small. One, two, or three dorsal 

 fins occupying nearly the whole length of the haclt, the spinous 

 portion, if distinct, being as mtich developed as the soft, or more; 

 sometimes the entire fin is composed of spines ; anal fin long. 

 Ventrals jugular, composed of a few rays, and sometimes rudi- 

 mentary or entirely absent. Pseuddbranchiae generally present. 



Littoral forms of great generic variety, occurring abund- 

 antly in all temperate and tropical seas. Some of the species 

 have become acclimatised in fresh water, and many inhabit 

 brackish water. With very few exceptions they are very 

 small, some of the smallest fishes belongiag to the family of 

 " Blennies." One of the principal characteristics of the 

 Blennies is the ventral fin, which is formed by less than five 

 rays, and has a jugular position. The JBlennies have this in 

 common with many Gadoids, and it is sometimes difficult to 

 decide to which of these two families a fish should be referred. 

 In such doubtful cases the presence of the pseudobranchiae 

 (which are absent in Gadoids) may be of assistance. 



In many Blennies the ventral fins have ceased to have 

 any function, and become rudimentary, or are even entirely 

 absent. In others the ventral fins, although reduced to 

 cylindrical stylets, possess a distinct function, and are used 

 as organs of locomotion, by the aid of which the fish moves 

 rapidly over the bottom. 



The fossil forms are scarcely known ; Pierygocephalus from 

 Monte Bolca appears to have been a Blennioid. 



Anarkhichas. — Body elongate, with rudimentary scales ; 

 snout rather short ; cleft of the mouth wide ; strong conical teeth 

 in the jaws, those on the sides with several pointed tubercles ; 

 a biserial band of large molar teeth on the palate. Dorsal fin 

 long, with flexible spines ; caudal separate. Ventrals none. 

 Gill-openings wide. 



