RAINBOW WRASSE. 345 



light ; but the most striking peculiarity was the broad den- 

 tatcd stripe, extending along each side, from the head nearly 

 to the tail, the colour of which was fulvous, and, with the 

 rest of the colours, produced an effect equally singular and 

 beautiful." The numbers of the fin-rays were 



D. 9 + 13 : P. 12 : V. 1 + 5 : A. '2 + 13 : C. 13. 



From other sources we learn that the head is compressed ; 

 lips large ; jaws of equal length, with four pointed recurved 

 teeth in front, and two rows of conical teeth on each side ; 

 palate and tongue smooth ; nostrils pierced near the eyes 

 with four apertures, those anterior round, the others oval ; 

 irides orange, the pupil black ; body elongated and narrow ; 

 back and belly round ; lateral line elevated ; scales of the 

 body adherent, small, and thin. 



Risso says an assemblage of beautiful colours pervades the 

 body of this species ; the back is greenish blue ; the longitu- 

 dinal band is orange, beneath that are lilac-coloured bands on 

 a silvery ground ; the head varied with brown, yellow, blue, 

 and silver ; the dorsal fin orange, with a purple spot on the 

 membrane connecting the first three spinous rays, which are 

 elongated beyond the others. 



Although this species is reported not to be uncommon in 

 the Mediterranean, and Risso states that it frequents all the 

 rocky shores of that sea, but little appears to be known of 

 its habits. A translator of Oppian says : 



" On some thick beds of mossy verdure grow 

 Sea grass, and spreading wrack are seen : below 

 Gay Rainbow-fish, and sable Wrasse resort." 



The food of this fish is small fry and crustaceous animals. 

 Elian says the flesh is poisonous : Galen and Bloch consider 

 it wholesome. 



