On the Life-History of the Shanny (Blennius pholis L.). 377 



are likewise shorter in proportion to the length of the fish. The 

 snout is slightly longer. In one of the examples (fig. 7) the right 

 pectoral has been repaired after injury, and occasionally in contine- 

 ment caudal and other fins are mutilated by each other. 



The hardihood of the shanny in leaving the water and resting 

 on the rocks or amongst seaweeds in the sun has long been known. 

 When their haiints are invaded at low water the fishes leap from 

 the ledges and rock-surfaces into the water. Certain experiences, ho- 

 wever, show that their endurance is even greater than what is recorded. 

 Thus a female of 43/4 inches, which had only spawned the previous 

 day, was taken to Edinburgh on June 6^^ in a small quantity of 

 water, and kept in a close Chamber all night. Next day it appeared 

 to be dead, but being valuable histologically it was carried to St. 

 Andrews amongst sea-weed in a dry vessel. The following day 

 signs of life were observed, and on placing it in sea-water it revi- 

 ved, and lived for a month — until, indeed, it was necessary to examine 

 it. The hardihood of the Speeles is exhibited prominently in other 

 respects, for it can be transferred directly from sea-water to fresh 

 without exhibiting the least inconvenience, and it survives in it 

 for a week or more. In this connection Prof. Edward Forbes 

 thought fresh water was so injurious to marine forms that he carried 

 it to sea in order to kill instantaneously Luidia which had proved 

 so troublesome by breaking into fragments after capture. Many 

 marine fishes do perish quickly when put in fresh water, and, as 

 elsewhere noted^, Baltic herrings which have been acclimatised to 

 fresh water die when they are suddenly transferred to sea-water. 

 Moreover Couch 2 states that fresh water is fatal to the shanny. 



The number of females amongst the shannies seems to be pro- 

 portionally great, though, perhaps, the older maies protect themselves 

 by superior cunning. Thus out of a series of 25 captured in the 

 tidal pools only 8 were males, and all were small, viz. from 2^/4 to S^g 

 inches long,yet large males — 6^4 in. long — are occasionally obtained^. 



The Chief constituents of the food of the shanny in a State of 

 freedom amongst the rocks at St. Andrews are young mussels and 

 sea-acorns (Balani); though many small univalves such as Littorinse 

 and adult Rissose, besides fragments of limpet with the odontophore, 

 are met with. 



1 3d Ann. Rep. Scotch Fishery Board. 1885. p. 65. 



2 Fishes of Brit. Vol. II. p. 228. 



3 Life Histories of the Food-Fishes. p. 207. 



