OF BRITISH FtSHESV 97 



It does not appear to be very tenacious of life 9 

 like some of the blennies, as it was placed in a tin 

 box with the Crested and Smooth Blenny, covered 

 with wet algae, and although these were lively, 

 the Ophidium was dead before it could be got to my 

 house. 



Little can be said of the natural habits of this 

 fish ; but as it so rarely occurs, it is most probably 

 an inhabitant of the rocky parts ; in such a situa- 

 tion at low water, the specimen here described, 

 was taken. 



The Ophidium barbatum has been introduced into 

 the catalogue of British fishes, and I believe, was 

 first given as such in Berkenhout's " Outlines," but 

 whether on the personal authority of that author, 

 or on what part of the British coast it was observ- 

 ed, no mention is made. Upon comparison of 

 the imberbe with the figures of barbatum deli- 

 neated by Bloch and Dr Shaw, there appears 

 to be a considerable difference in colour and < 

 other particulars, independent of the cirrhi with 

 which the barbatum is furnished, so that if any 

 doubts have existed with respect to the identity of 

 imberbe as a distinct species, from its very rare oc- 

 currence, the figure which accompanies this des- 

 cription will, it is presumed, remove them. 



