233 
BLENNIOPS, 
The body lengthened, having small scales. Head sloping to the 
mouth; over the eyes elevated and bordered branched or fimbriated 
tendrils. Dorsal fin long and even, except the first two or three rays, 
which are longest, and tipped with tendrils. The scales are scarcely 
or not at all visible when newly from the water, and they do not 
overlap each other. 
YARRELL’S BLENNY. 
Blennius ffalerita, 
“ palmicornis, 
“ Yarrellii, 
Blenniops Ascanii, 
Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 207. 
Jenyns; Manual, p. 380. 
Cuvier. Yarrell; Br. F., vol. i, p. 263. 
Gunther; Cat. Br. M., vol. iii, p. 284. 
This species has been known in Britain for almost a century, 
but so imperfectly as to have been confounded with one or two 
others, to which it bears but little likeness. Yet it cannot be 
deemed rare, for besides an example that is represented in the 
work of Pennant, it was found by Dr. Fleming in Scotland, on 
the coast of Norway^ by Nilsson, in Yorkshire and also at 
Berwick by Dr. George Johnston, by whom the specimen was 
communicated to Mr. Yarrell and Mr. Jenyns. It has been 
found also at IVick, in Scotland, by Mr. Peach, and not un- 
frequently in Cornwall, so that three examples have been 
taken there in one day. In no instance, however, have I 
known it to have taken a bait; a circumstance which may be 
explained by the fact, that while it generally keeps in deeper 
water than the others of the British species of its family, the 
narrow gape of its mouth scarcely admits of its receiving such 
hooks as are employed at the depth of water it frequents, 
and which is not commonly less than from five to seven or 
eight fathoms. It is worthy of notice, however, that while this 
is the case in Cornwall, it is found only between tide-marks 
in the north. It is caught not unfrequently in crab-pots 
VOL. II. 2 H ^ ’ 
