. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE BLENNIES. 475 are short, powerful, the pointed rays resemWin?- cl-ws rather than tns. In al the fishes of this genus, the bodv is much compressed and decidedly elevated ; but in the present species, these peculiarities are carried to an almost exaggerated extent. The first dorsal spine, with its membra- nous appendages, is placed as usual just above the snout, and the second ray is s^t immediately behind it. The third, however, is placed at a very great distance from the second, and forms part of the soft dorsal fin Dr. Gunther remarks upo
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE BLENNIES. 475 are short, powerful, the pointed rays resemWin?- cl-ws rather than tns. In al the fishes of this genus, the bodv is much compressed and decidedly elevated ; but in the present species, these peculiarities are carried to an almost exaggerated extent. The first dorsal spine, with its membra- nous appendages, is placed as usual just above the snout, and the second ray is s^t immediately behind it. The third, however, is placed at a very great distance from the second, and forms part of the soft dorsal fin Dr. Gunther remarks upon the fishes of this genus, that they are so extremely variable in form, colour, and the greater or less development ci the dorsal spines, that hardly two specimens are found sufficiently alike WALKING FISH.—{ hispidus.) enable the systematic naturalist to decide upon their precise situation in the zoological scale. Moreover, their geographical range is exceedingly wide, some species ranging over the Atlantic and Indian Oceans ; and the learned ichthyologist above mentioned is of opinion that many specimens which he has at present been compelled to admit into the list of separate species will be ultimately found to be mere casual varieties. The colour of this species is yellow, diversified with many spots and streaks of brown, some of the streaks radiating from the eye, and others extending over the dorsal fin. It is a native of the Indian seas. The important family of the Blennies comes next in order. They are all carnivorous fishes, many being extremely voracious, and are spread over the shores of every sea on the globe. They mostly reside on or near the bottom. The Sea Wolf, Sea Cat, or Swine-fish, is one of the fiercest and most formidable of the finny tribes that are found on our coast, and has well earned the popular names by which it is Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
