38 MARVELS OF FISH LIFE 
their enemies from attacking them. The cottus, or 
father-lasher, when alarmed spreads out his large 
pectoral fin, erects the fins on his back, and pufis out 
his cheeks. The fin rays terminate in sharp spines, and 
the gill-covers are also armed. The cottus would be an 
uncomfortable mouthful, and is in consequence left alone. 
Alongside the cottus, in the sea, is found a soft, slimy, 
defenceless fish, the blenny. The blenny, when attacked, 
assumes an attitude quite as ferocious in appearance as 
the cottus, and as he is not specially active, nor excep- 
tionally protected by colour or markings, we may fairly 
assume that this ferocious attitude deceives his enemies, 
and assists in his escape. 
