THE VIVIPAROUS 33 LENNY; j 
Vi’he Viviparous Blenny *. 
fiiE viviparous blenny in its mode of generation, dif" 
fers from the whole order of fpinoUs fifhes, in producing 
living young. In confequence of this, its habits mud be 
confiderjbly different. Impregnation mud take place! 
tvithin the body of the female, who, like moft other vi- 
viparous animals, probably is diflinguifned by parental 
SfFe&ion for her brood, which generally conftds of two 
or three hundred. The feafon of her parturition is a 
little after the depth of winter ; before impregnation by 
the male, the eggs are fniall, and of a w'hitifh colour; af- 
ter that period they are gradually increafed in free, and af- 
lame a red appearance. By and by they acquire an oblong 
lhape, and two black fpots begin to announce the rudi- 
ments of the head and eyes ; after this the belly and 
Vifcera begin to appear : they are covered with a milky 
pellucid membrane, through which the intedines are 
Icen ; Laft of all, the tail becomes difeernibie, like a fmall 
^read, bending towards the extremity. 
During the whole time of gedation, the abdomen of 
*‘ le female is greatly didended, not only by the young 
^ r ood, but alfo by a white muddy fubdance, which pro- 
0i bly fupplies the nafeent family with food. As the period 
°f Parturition approaches, this liquid gradually dimiuidies 
d ua ntity, till, upon the young attaining their full fize, 
B b a is 
Muftela marina vivipara, Scion. Blennius viviparns, Liij. Syft. 
