604 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
The secondary sex characters do not differ noticeably from, those of the other local 
species. Each anal spine bears a fleshy expansion at the tip in adult males, and a 
membranous expansion is present immediately in advance of the anal fin. Also the 
female has a more or less distinct anal papilla (fig. 110). 
This blenny apparently inhabits shelly bottom only at Beaufort, though in 
Chesapeake Bay it was taken on clay, mud, and sand (Hildebrand and Schroeder, 
1928, p. 333). A few specimens were taken at Beaufort in nets hauled over shelly 
grounds. A somewhat larger number of fish, however, was taken by hand in oyster, 
clam, and scallop shells. The shells were occupied not only during the spawning 
season, but at other times also and by both sexes. 
The banded blenny is hardy. It lives well in confinement, and during cool 
weather at least it can live out of water a long time. For example, on the afternoon 
of November 24, 1927, an individual occupying a scallop shell containing some sand 
and mud was picked up by hand. It was placed in a dry container with the shell 
and left over night. The next morning the fish was still in a lively condition. Upon 
being placed in an aquarium it at first deserted the shell, but soon afterwards reoc- 
cupied it. It lived in the aquarium for several weeks, and allowed itself to be lifted 
from the water with the shell numerous times. Some of the nests found were so 
near the usual low-tide line that they must become exposed when rather exceptionally 
low tides occur. At such times if the male fish guarding the nest does not desert 
it, he may have to live for a while either without water, or at most only from water 
brought by the wash of waves. Observations indicate, however, that if the nest is 
deserted the eggs most probably will be destroyed soon by enemies, as explained 
subsequently. 
This little fish is game and when handled fights vigorously. It will grasp the 
skin and flesh of the hand and hold on bulldog fashion. However, its jaws and 
teeth are too weak to inflict a wound. 
The illustrations of the development of the egg and of the newly hatched fish, 
presented herewith, are all based on live specimens. The young were not taken 
in collections made in nature, and those hatched in the laboratory died within a 
day or so after hatching. Consequently, no material for the study of their develop- 
ment is available. 
