177 



SMOOTH BLENNY. 



Blennius Pholis. B. olivaceus, subnigro alboque nebulosus, linen 



laterali curva, subbifida. 

 Olivaceous Blenny, with blackish and whitish clouds, and 



curved sub-bifid lateral line. 

 Blennius Pholis. B. capite Icevi, linea laterali curva subbifida, 



Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 443. 

 Smooth Blenny. Penn . Brit. Zool. 3 . pi. 36. Block .pi. 7 1 ./. 2. 



This species, which appears to have been known 

 to Aristotle, is an inhabitant of the Northern and 

 Mediterranean seas, where it commonly frequents 

 the borders of the coasts, lying among the stones, 

 sea-weeds, &c. and occasionally enters the mouths 

 of rivers. It grows to the length of seven or 

 eight inches, but is usually found much smaller: 

 it is a fish of a strong and vigorous nature, biting 

 fiercely when first taken, though incapable of 

 piercing the skin on account of the small ncss of its 

 teeth : it is so tenacious of life that, according to 

 Mr. Ray, it may be kept for the spa>ce of four 

 and twenty hours out of water. By the help of 

 its ventral fins it is observed to creep with ease up 

 the sides of stones, &c. It feeds on smaller fishes 

 and their spawn, as well as on shell-fish, sea in- 

 sects, &c. It is caught both by the line and net, 

 but being a coarse fish, is very little esteemed as a 

 food, and is rather used for the purpose of a bait 

 for other fish. In colour it is subject to vary, but 

 is usually of a deep olive-brown, marbled with 

 blackish clouds : sometimes it is nearly black, and 



V. iv. p. i. 1% 



