318 



LABRID.E. 



" In its habits,' 1 Mr. Couch says, " this species keeps, 

 like the others, among rocks, seeking shelter among the 

 larger sea-weeds, where it feeds chiefly on crustaceous ani- 

 mals, and takes a bait freely. All the Wrasses, however, 

 that have an elongated form, differ from those with deeper 

 and more solid bodies, in changing their quarters according to 

 the season, and that too without much reference to the cold 

 or warmth. They enter harbours and frequent the shallower 

 rocks close to land during the summer ; but in autumn and 

 winter pass into deeper, but not very deep water. They are 

 but little esteemed here as food, and are chiefly sought after 

 as bait for other fish." 



The whole length of the specimen described is twelve 

 inches ; the length of the head, compared with the length 

 of the head and body without the tail-rays, is as one to 

 three; the distance from the teeth in front to the edge of 

 the preoperculum equal to the depth of the body alone ; the 

 depth of the body and dorsal fin included is equal to the 

 whole length of the head : lips thin, flexible, capable of 

 considerable extension ; a single row of teeth in each jaw, 

 those of the lower jaw smaller than those of the upper jaw, 

 and of these last those in front are the largest. The dorsal 

 fin commences in a line over the origin of the pectoral fin ; 

 the pectoral fins short and rounded ; the vent situated under 

 the sixteenth spiny ray of the dorsal fin ; the anal fin ending 

 rather before the end of the soft portion of the dorsal fin ; 

 the fleshy portion of the tail and its rays elongated, the latter 

 slightly rounded : the body deepest at the origin of the pec- 

 toral fin ; in its whole form elongated ; the scales of moderate 

 size, with six rows, following the diagonal line of their suc- 

 cession, between the base of the dorsal fin and the lateral 

 line, and twenty rows between the lateral line and the bottom 

 of the belly. 



The general colour of the body and head varies in tint from 



