304 ANACANTHINI. 



two : Dr. Moreau observes that it has three, two being concealed in the skin. 

 Coecal appendages long, about 26 in number. Air-bladder — with thick walls it 

 forms a simple sac rather constricted anteriorly, where it ends in two hom-like 

 processes. Along either side of the organ are a row of numerous hollow lateral 

 appendages, that communicate with the interior of the air-bladder by transverse 

 oval orifices. There is a slight constriction, visible internally, about the middle 

 of the length of the air-bladder. A large gland exists in its anterior half on the 

 inner side of its anterior wall. In the posterior half of the air-bladder is a species 

 of diaphragm formed of its lining membrane. Vent situated on a vertical line 

 beneath the commencement of the second dorsal fin. A few fine scales over the 

 bases of the vertical fins. Colours — brownish-gray, becoming paler on the sides 

 and beneath : dorsal, pectoral, caudal and anal fins yellow edged with black, the 

 latter having a narrow white outer edge : ventrals light gray, white externally. 



The P. Mediterranea, Laroche, is very similar, but possesses a rounded first 

 dorsal fin which is not elevated : and the ventral is nearly the same length as the 

 head. Cuvier considered this last to be Blennius phycis, Linnseus, and not the 

 form figured by Pennant. 



Varieties. — Cornish considers Couch's " Blennoid fork-beard " as one of these 

 fish out of condition. 



Names. — Common fork-beard or forked hake. Hakes-dame, Cornwall. Le pliycis 

 blenno'ide, French. 



Habits. — Mostly seen off our coasts during the winter, and but little is known 

 respecting its habits : it appears to prefer a sandy and muddy bottom. Thompson's 

 first example was taken " February 24th, 1836 (a calm day), with a gaff or hook 

 as it lay floundering on the surface of the water : was very violent when brought 

 on board, and before dying had struggled so hard as to divest itself of nearly all 

 its scales." It was 25 inches long. The stomach of one contained two small 

 whitings and several crustaceans. 



Means of capture. — Usually with a hook and line. 



As food. — Mr. Cornish observes that its flesh is extremely delicate and much 

 superior to the whiting. 



Habitat. — Along the coast of Scandinavia, the German Ocean, and the 

 Atlantic coasts of Europe extending into the Mediterranean, where it is common. 



It has been recorded as rare in Banff (Edward) : St. Andrew's (Wern. Mem. 

 vi, p. 569) : several on the coasts of the Solway Firth, and one in December, 

 1833, at Bowness (Yarrell) : Mr. Jackson obtained one, 21 inches long, March 1st, 

 1880, from off Southport : it is rare in Devonshire, but, according to Couch, 

 common in Cornwall during the autumn and winter months, but rare in the 

 opinion of Mr. Cornish, who obtained one at Penzance in 1864, and another at 

 Land's End April 8th, 1870 : on December 8th, 1873, one was taken in a herring 

 net at Looe (Clogg), and on August 13th, 1866, an example, 19 inches long, was 

 captured off the north-east of Guernsey. Pennant has recorded it from Flintshire : 

 and on January 24th, 1812, Templeton took one, 20 inches in length, from among 

 some haddock. 



In Ireland it has been taken on the north-east coast in a very few instances 

 (Thompson). Two from Carrickfergus, March, 1839, 15 inches long : December, 

 1840, one 26 inches. January 28th, 1849, a male 22 inches, Portaferry, county 

 Down. In the winter of 1865, two examples were obtained by J. Blake-Knox, 

 one a foot long from the stomach of a conger, one trawled, 1 foot 5 inches long 

 (Zool. 1866, p. 508). 



The example is figured life size. The species has not been recorded above 

 2 feet long from the British Isles. 



