190 FISH GALLERY. 



female ; 865, male) . At the breeding season the male becomes 

 brilliantly coloured and differs from the female in the shape of the 

 snout and the dorsal fins. 



The fishes of the family Gobiesocidse have a protractile mouth 

 of moderate size ; the pelvic fins ai-e widely separated from each 

 other ; the dorsal and anal fins are short and without spines • 

 there are no scales in the skin. There is a ventral sucker, simple 

 or double, supported by the pectoral and pelvic girdles and the 

 pelvic fins. These fishes, known as Cling-fishes, are small, and 

 are met with between tide-marks among loose stones and shells, to 

 which they cling by their ventral sucker. They are of world-wide 

 distribution ; species of Lepadogaster occur on the British coasts, 

 particularly the Cornish Sucker. Lepadogaster gouanii, 868. 

 Wolf-fish. The Blenniidse have more or less elongate bodies, naked or with 

 small scales. The dorsal and anal fins are long, and the caudal is 

 distinct. All of the dorsal fin-rays are spinous or non-articulated, 

 or the anterior ones only. The family is a large one, composed 

 mostly of small marine fishes ; the» largest are the Wolf-fishes 

 [Anarrhichas) , some of which grow to five feet in length. The 

 Common Wolf-fish is Anarrhichas lupus, 871, and fig. 90, in some 



W/!ff&/?mrt*» 



Fig. 90. — Wolf-fish, Anarrhichas lupus, 



parts known as the Cat-fish or Sea-cat. The Wolf-fishes are 

 unprepossessing, voracious animals with powerful body and strong 

 jaws and teeth (see skull 872). The Wolf-fish has been known to 

 attack persons wading in the water at low tide. The flesh is good, 

 but is not much eaten. The genus Blennius is represented in the 

 exhibited series by the Toinpot, Blennius gattorugine, 873, and 

 the Shanny, Blennius pholis, 874, both of which occur in British 



