Class IV. SMOOTH BLENNY. 281 



upper, and eighteen in the lower jaw. The 

 pectoral fins were broad and rounded, consist- 

 ing of thirteen rays ; the ventral fins of only 

 two thick rays, separated near their ends ; the 

 dorsal fin consisted of thirty-two soft rays, and 

 reached from the hind part of the head almost 

 to the tail ; the vent was in the middle of the 

 body ; the anal fin extended almost to the tail, 

 and consisted of nineteen rays, tipt with white ; 

 the tail was rounded at the end, and composed 

 of twelve branched rays. The color varied; 

 some were quite black, but generally they were 

 of a deep olive, prettily marbled with a deeper 

 color ; others spotted with white ; the last often 

 disposed in rows above and beneath the lateral 

 line. 



