182 CLASSIFICATION OF FISHES^ ETC. 



TsiBE IV. BLEXNIDES. — Generation viviparous; size 

 small ; the anterior dorsal rays generally sub-spinous and 

 flexible ; ventral fins imperfect, or unusually developed. 



Family 1. BLENNIDiE. 

 Ventral fins of two thick rays ; head compressed. 



1. Sub-family Blenxin^. — Dorsal fin with a few spinous 



and many soft rays. 



BLEXXirs. Teeth" long, equal, compact, firm, with a lateral 



canine tooth. 



Slennius. Profile vertical ; dorsal fin high, emarginate; eyes crested. 

 P holts. Dorsal fin almost entire ; no membranaceous crests. 

 Chasmodes. Profile lengthened; mouth large; branchial aperture 



formed by a spiracle. 

 Blenitrachus. Lower jaw longest ; mouth obliquely vertical. 

 Omobranclius. Branchial orifice above the pectoral ; canines large. 



Salaris. Fine setaceous teeth, flexible at their roots, with or 

 without canines. 



Petroscirtes. Branchial orifice above the pectoral ; a single row of 



teeth. 

 Salaris. Profile vertical ; dorsal deeply cleft ; canine teeth strong. 

 Erpicthys. Dorsal entire, or slightly emarginate ; canine teeth wanting. 

 Bupiscartes. Anguilliform ; caudal free ; ventrals of four rays. 

 Cirrtpectes. Short ; profile vertical ; a series of filaments round the 



nape. 



Chirolophis. Anguilliform ; caudal fin attached to the dor- 

 sal ; ventrals three-rayed. 



Cristiceps. Profile vertical ; dorsal fins two, remote, the 

 first like a crest. 



Myxodes. Head elongated, pointed ; teeth as in Blennius ; 

 • no canines. 



2. Sub-family Clixixje. — Dorsal fin with many spinous 



but few soft rays. 



Tripierigiok. Dorsal fins three ; head somewhat produced. 

 Cliketrachus. Dorsal fins two ; mouth obliquely vertical. 

 Blexnophis. Anguilliform, long ; head crested ; ventrals 



rather large. 

 Clixus. Ovate ; dorsal fin linear ; all the teeth velvety. 

 Labrisoml's. Front teeth strong, conic. 



