THE BLENNY FAMILY. 205 



though we cannot speak confidently on this subject. This size 

 is succeeded by specimens 7f inches, in August, and towards the 

 end of the same month by a third, 8| inches in length. We may 

 here note that the wolf-fish passes from a uniformly tinted 

 larval form to the barred adult, in direct contrast to the salmon 

 which has a barred larval 'parr '-stage, and yet is uniformly 

 tinted in the adult. 



In March, again, others measure 8^- inches to 9^ inches; 

 in May 11 inches. 



As regards the habits of this fish, little is known. The 

 early stages are no doubt passed amongst the rocks and 

 weeds of the sea-floor. Development appears to be more 

 rapid at sea than in tanks, for the smallest trawled specimen 

 (17 mm.) on the 21st of January had already absorbed its yolk, 

 whereas some in the tanks as long as 23 mm. were still en- 

 cumbered with this element. The larval forms are apparently 

 more pelagic than the adults, which live for the most part on 

 the ground. The adult fish is usually regarded as more or less 

 of a deep-sea form, and is frequently taken on the haddock-lines: 

 yet it is common on the rocky bottom inshore, as near Crail. 

 Edward states that they are frequently thrown upon the shore 

 after a storm in the Banff district, which points to a habit not 

 always confined to the deep water. 



In regard to the rate of growth, the newly-hatched larva 

 is very large, about | an inch (12 mm.), and the adult may 

 attain a length of about five feet. In six or seven months, 

 viz. in July, its length may be 6 inches, and the following 

 February it reaches from 8^ to 10 inches. In its second year 

 it may grow to a length of 18 or 20 inches. 



Butterfly Blenny. (Blennius ocellaris, L.) 



The eggs of this southern blenny were apparently those 

 found by Mr Cunningham attached to a hollow bone brought 

 up by a hook in deep-sea fishing off Cornwall. As the adult 

 accompanied the eggs the probability as to the identity is 

 greater. They had an orange-red colour and a transverse 



