THE BLENNIES. 47s 
are short, stiff ,and powerful, the pointed rays resembling clows rather than 
fins. In all the tishes of this yenus, the body is much compressed and 
decidedly elevated ; but in the present species, these peculiarities are carried 
to an almost exaggerated extent. The first dorsal spine, with its membra- 
nous appendages, is placed as usual just above the snout, and the second 
ray 1s set immediately behind it. The third, however, is placed at a very 
great distance from the second, and forms part of the soft dorsal fin. 
Dr. Giinther remarks upon the fishes of this genus, that they are so 
extremely variable in form, colour, and the greater or less development ot 
the dorsal spines, that hardly two specimens are found sufficiently alike u 
WALKING FISH.—(Axntennarius hispidus.) 
enable the systematic naturalist to decide upon their precise situation in the 
zoological scale. Moreover, their geographical range is exceedingly wide, 
some species ranging over the Atlantic and Indian Oceans ; and the learned 
ichthyologist above mentioned is of opinion that many specimens which he 
has at present been compelled to admit into the list of separate species 
will be ultimately found to be mere casual varieties. 
The colour of this species is yellow, diversified with many spots and 
streaks of brown, some of the streaks radiating from the eye, and others 
extending over the dorsal fin. It is a native of the Indian seas. 
THE important family of the BLENNIES comes next in order. They are 
all carnivorous fishes, many being extremely voracious, and are spread over 
the shores of every sea on the globe. They mostly reside on or near the 
bottom. 
THE SEA WOLF, SEA CAT, or SWINE-FISH, is one of the fiercest and most 
formidable of the finny tribes that are found on our coast, and has well 
earned the popular names by which it is known, 
