FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
333 
than the eye; a minute tentacle sometimes present on upper margin of the eye; dorsal fin very 
long, slightly joined to the caudal, its origin over the concealed margin of the preopercle; caudal 
fin round; anal fin long and low, distinct from the caudal, its origin under the first soft rays of the 
dorsal; ventral fins very narrow, inserted in advance of pectorals; pectoral fins broad, 1 to 1.35 
in head. 
Color of female in alcohol brownish; some individuals much darker than others; sides with 
pale crossbars or sometimes simply with whitish blotches; frequently also with irregular dark bars 
or blotches; sometimes with more or less wavy longitudinal lines; head above with very small dark 
dots; the fins dark spotted or barred; base of caudal with an obscure dark spot. Color of adult 
males usually darker and more uniform; sides with pale, wavy lines, sometimes with roundish 
pale spots, somewhat broader than the lines, situated in the course of the lines; upper part of head 
with small dark dots; fins mostly dark brown, with pale dots; spinous dorsal with a black spot 
between the first and second spines and frequently with smaller dark spots and dots, usually with 
a pale longitudinal stripe; no spot at base of caudal. The young resemble the adult female, being 
somewhat lighter in color, however, and having larger pale spots and bars. 
Many specimens of this species, ranging in length from 25 to 90 millimeters (1 to 3^ inches), 
were preserved and were before the writers when the foregoing description was prepared. The 
comparatively great variation in color between the sexes and among examples of the same sex is 
indicated in the description. The sexes, because of the dissimilarity in color, have several times 
been described as different species. The banded blenny is most readily distinguished from other 
blennies of Chesapeake Bay by the comparatively pointed snout, the very small and frequently 
absent tentacle on the upper margin of the eye, and the convex interorbital. 
The food, as shown by the contents of 18 stomachs, consists of small crustaceans, small mollusks, 
and insect larvse. The small crustaceans, which constituted by far the greater portion of the food, 
were principally isopods and amphipods. 
Spawning takes place from April to August. The eggs apparently are deposited in shells 
and probably on other objects, to which they adhere. On May 22, 1922, at Cherrystone Island, 
Va., a “nest,” consisting of both valves of an oyster shell with almost the entire inside of the shell 
covered with eyed eggs, was picked up by hand. It so happened that the parent fish (the male) 
was inclosed in the shell as it was taken from the water. The nest and the fish were placed together 
in a bucket containing water. Even under these conditions the male fish remained close to the 
nest and could scarcely be driven away. Later the nest and the fish were preserved and are now 
before us. 
In this connection the following quotation from Lugger (1877, p. 70) is of interest: 
This peculiar little fish seems to be rather common in many parts of the Chesapeake Bay in localities where oysters are found. 
All the specimens were obtained from different oyster bars, and invariably inhabiting the dead and empty oyster shells called 
“snuffboxes.” When taken out of their retreat they move about very slowly in the water but show great activity when disturbed. 
They drop from the shell very promptly as soon as the oyster is taken out of the water. 
This blenny is reported to reach a maximum length of 4 inches. The largest individual seen 
during the present investigation, however, did not exceed 3J^ inches. The banded blenny is not 
rare in Chesapeake Bay. On the other hand, it was never taken in large numbers. It was found to 
be most common in the lower York, Rappahannock, Potomac, and Patuxent Rivers, the largest 
catches being made from July to October. The latest catch made alongshore was on November 
23 at Cape Charles. It was taken on clay, mud, and sand bottom. A few specimens were taken 
by the Fish Hawk during the winter months in water ranging from 9 to 15 fathoms in depth. The 
species, of course, is too small to be of commercial value. 
Habitat . — New York to Florida; rare north of Maryland. 
Chesapeake localities. — ( a ) Previous records: St. Marys River and near the mouth of the 
Potomac River (Uhler and Lugger, 1876); many parts of Chesapeake Bay, where oysters are 
found (Lugger, 1877), Blackistone Island, Md., and Cape Charles city, Va. ( b ) Specimens in 
collection: Many localities from Annapolis, Md., to Cape Charles and Lynnhaven Bay, Va. 
