Z. viviparus, Cuv. Reg. An. torn. ii. p. 240. Blennius viviparus, Linn. Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 443. Block, Ichth. pl. 72. Don. Brit. Fish. vol. ii. pl. 34. Mustela vivipara, Will. Hist. Pise. p. 122. tab. H. 3. f. 5. Gunnellus viviparus, Flem. Brit. An. p. 207. Viviparous Blenny, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 211. pl. 37. Id. (Ed. 1812). vol. in. p. 283. pl. 41. Yarr. Brit. Fish. vol. i. p. 243.

Length

From ten to twelve, rarely fifteen, inches.

Description

(Form). Slender, elongated: body sub-cylindric anteriorly, compressed and tapering behind: skin smooth and naked: head small, equalling about one-sixth of the entire length: snout blunt; upper jaw thick, projecting a little beyond the lower: teeth conical, sharp, very minute: lateral line indistinct; its course straight, at half the depth of the body: dorsal commencing at the nape and extending the whole length, nearly even till just before its union with the caudal, where it becomes suddenly depressed and appears notched; all the rays soft and articulated, but simple: anal commencing a little before the middle, even throughout, also uniting with the caudal: this last rounded: pectorals large and rounded: ventrals jugular, very small and narrow, of three rays:

B. 6; D., A. and C., about 150; P. 18; V. 3.

(Colours). Back and sides yellowish brown, stained and spotted with dusky: a series of dark spots more or less well-defined along the dorsal fin: under parts, and anal, yellowish.

Found on many parts of the coast both in England and Scotland. Stated by Pennant to be common in the mouth of the river Esk at Whitby, Yorkshire. Keeps at the bottom, lurking beneath stones. Feeds on small crabs. Is ovoviviparous. The young, according to Bloch, from two to three hundred in number, are excluded in the month of June.