SCALE-RAYED WRASSE. 



337 



ACANTHOPTERYG1L 



LAE1UDJE. 



THE SCALE-RAYED WRASSE. 



Acantholabrus Couchii, Cuv. et VALENC. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. xiii. p. 248. 

 Crenilabrus luscus, The Scale-rayed Wrasse of Couch's MS. 

 Labrus ,, COUCH, London's Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. v. p. 18, and 



p. 741 & 2, fig. 121. 



ACANTHOLABRUS. Generic Characters. Besides those of the Labrida; gene- 

 rally, which have only three spines in the anal fin, the Acunthtilabri have al- 

 ways five or six spines in the anal fin. 



THIS new genus lias been instituted by M. Valenciennes, 

 as quoted above, for the reception of those species among the 

 Labridee which, besides a row of conical and rather large teeth 

 in front of the mouth, have several small teeth behind those 

 in front, forming a narrow band ; with a second very obvious 

 character in the greater number of the spiny rays in the anal 

 fin. Of this division we possess three species, the first of 

 which, named by M. Valenciennes after the describer, has 

 been thus characterized : 



" The specimen was twenty-two inches long ; the greatest 

 depth, exclusive of the fins, two and a quarter inches ; the 

 body plump and rounded. Head elongated ; lips mem- 

 branous : teeth numerous, in several rows ; those in front 



VOL. I. Z 



