Uj6 THE VIVIPAROUS 13EENNY. 
it almoft wholly difappcars, as if confutned by the nu- 
merous race which it has fupported *. 
When the foetus have acquired nearly their complete 
fize, they creep from place to place in the uterus, as if 
attempting to difen-gage themfelves from a ftate of con* 
finement, which is now no longer neceffary : after par- 
turition, they are immediately capable of fwimming and 
following the mother ; and of fupporting life by the fame 
movements of the mouth and gills. 
The young of the viviparous blenny, at their fir ft ap- 
pearance, are about two inches long ; when full fized, 
they arc nearly a foot. Their flefh is extremely coarfe, 
andunfavory ; it is ate chiefly by the poor, who fometimeS 
take them in their pregnant ftate ; and leaft their nume- 
rous young when dreffed, fliould adhere to their knife of 
fingers, they take the female, before boiling, and ftrip 
her of her young, by palling the hand along the belly* 
Several of thefe fifh are caught in the river EJk, in Yorb 
Jhire, by throwing lines from the top of the bridge f. 
* Wiliough. p. \iy. 
f Britiih Zoology, cbfs 4. genus ae.- 
