BLENNOMORPHS. 
213 
I: Front jaw-teetlr firmly set in one row, 
and sharpened at the point like a chi- 
sel (anteriorly and posteriorly compressed 
incisors). At least the greater part of 
the dorsal fin (in the Scandinavian spe- 
cies the whole) soft-rayed Genus Blennius. 
II: Jaw-teeth conical, sharp or blunt, gene- 
rally set in several rows, and more nr 
less far apart from each other. Only 
spinous rays in the dorsal fin: 
1 : Branchiostegal membranes to a 
great extent united, and the gill- 
openings therefore vertical. Vent- 
ral fins small, with thick skin, or 
wanting: 
a: No spinous ray in the anal fin. 
Head above the eyes furnished 
with dermal fringes Genus Chirolophis. 
b: Two spinous rays at the begin- 
ning of the anal fin. No dermal 
fringes on the head Genus Pliolis. 
2: Branchiostegal membranes only 
slightly united, the lower part of 
the gill-openings extending in a for- 
ward direction. Ventral fins with 
thin skin and fairly long (equal in 
length to the lower jaw) Genus Lumpenus. 
Genus BLENNIUS. 
Body naked ( without scales). In the anterior part of the jaivs an arcuate row of strong , closely set , recurved 
and chisel-like teeth: in the hack of the jaivs generally solitary canines. Head short, with the upper profile sharply 
curved. Mouth small, gape horizontal. Gill-openings fairly large , hut vertical ; branchiostegal membranes with 6 
rays and broadly united to each other or to the isthmus. One continuous dorsal fin , generally, however , incised at 
the margin, with most {or all) of its rays soft, but unarticulated, at least in the anterior part of the fin. Only 
the caudal fin with branched rays, and these generally few ( under 10?). Ventral fins with thick skin, one short 
spinous ray and three soft rays. Anterior part of the lateral line arcuate, and often the only distinguishable 
portion thereof. Pseudobranchice distinct. Air-bladder and pyloric appendages wanting. 
This genus includes about 40 species, which be- 
long chiefly to the Atlantic. Some, however, have been 
found in the Red Sea and off Ceylon, the Sandwich 
Islands and Tasmania; and one species {Blennius 
Sujefianus or Cagnota) has domiciled itself in the fresh- 
water of the east of Spain, the south of France, Italy 
and Dalmatia. Although the naked, slimy skin is 
without the brightness lent by the scales to the body 
of other fishes, still some of these species belong to 
those most richly endowed with beauty of colouring. 
Hence some of them bear such names as butterfly and 
peacock. As we have mentioned above, they are shore- 
fishes; but some of them have been met with far out at 
sea, following pieces of wreckage or finding a perma- 
nent home among the floating Sargasso-weed. Only 
one species belongs to the Scandinavian fauna. 
