78 
room xi. of the genera have sharp spines on the sides 
of the tail, which are retractile into a groove, 
and from the wound they inflict are often called 
Lancet Fish, or Surgeons. The Monoceros 
( Naseus ) has the spines on the sides of the tail 
fixed and blunt, and the front part of the head 
produced into a horn. 
The Sea Mullets ( Mugil ), from the pecu¬ 
liarity of their form, have been separated into a 
distinct family, characterized by their having 
two dorsal fins, large scales, and a very broad 
flat head. 
The Blennies ( Blennius ) differ from the other 
spinous fishes, in their skin being slimy, from 
whence their name, and from the spines of 
their dorsal fin being very thin and flexible, but 
not jointed as in all the soft finned fishes. Many 
of the species of this family are viviparous. 
The Wolf Fish ( AnarrhicJias ) differ from the 
other Blennies in the jaws and palate being 
armed with large tubercular teeth, which were 
for a long time considered as the same as the 
fossil Bufonites. The gall of this fish is used 
as soap by the Icelanders, who compare its flesh 
to that of the eel. 
The Anglers ( Lojphius ) have the bones of the 
wrist elongated, so that the pectoral fin appears 
to be placed on an arm. Their skeleton is 
very soft, nearly cartilaginous, and their skin 
destitute of scales. They are very voracious, 
and 
