28 



long as the body, commencing right over the crown of 

 the head ; its first three rays longest, spiny, separated 

 from the soft ones by a deep emargination. Ventral 

 placed before the pectoral fins, and consists of only two 

 rays. A small tentaculary, three-fid appendage above 

 each eye-brow ; and a tubercular excrescence near the 

 anus, in both sexes. It is ovoviviparous. No fish 

 perhaps displays a greater diversity of hues, than this, 

 and to make out any specific difference amongst its 

 many varieties, is next to impossible, I am thus inclined 

 to unite them under one common denomination, expres- 

 sive at once, of the changeable character of their colours. 

 The following are the chief varieties observed by me in 

 fresh specimens. 



1. Prevailing colour blood-red, mottled with greyish- 

 white irregular blots ; abdomen purplish on a white 

 ground ; fins deep-red, tinged with greyish- green. Iris 

 purple. Length twelve inches. Caught principally 

 amongst the rocks of Robben Island. 



2. Head, back, and sides dark purple, marbled with 

 reddish-brown, flesh-red, orange, and pale yellow marks. 

 Belly white, shaded with purple. Pectoral rays striped 

 with purplish-brown bands, ; dorsal, caudal and anal 

 fins dull-brown, spotted with yellowish-green dots. Iris 

 purple. Length ten to twelve inches. {Blennius rubes- 

 cens. Lichtemt. ?) Extremely pretty ; caught along with 

 the former. 



3. Upper part of body pale yellowish-brown ; head 

 olive-green ; sides and belly gamboge-yellow, sprinkled 

 with irregular greenish-white marks ; pectoral and caudal 

 fins without bands ; dorsal and anal with faint-green 

 spots. Iris yellow. Length eight to ten inches. 



4. The whole of back, sides, and fins olive-green ; 

 belly of a deeper yellow tint, with some white blots 

 along the lateral line. Iris-yellow. Length six to eight 

 inches. 



