THE WRASSES. 1 93 



of assuming fresh colours that has undoubtedly multi- 

 plied the species beyond requirement, and hence we 

 find more synonyms among the wrasses than in any 

 other group of fishes. In addition to the prominent 

 rows of front teeth, the wrasses have the power of 

 elongating the jaws, and also possess protrusile lips, 

 whence their generic name of " labrum," a lip. These 

 peculiarities as well as their tints have caused them 

 to be termed " sea-parrots" among fishermen another 

 name they bear is that of the " old wife." The ballan 

 wrasse is the commonest species, and attains the 

 largest size, often weighing three or four pounds. 

 Frank Buckland tells us, in his charming work ' Popular 

 History of British Fishes,' that this species on the 

 north coast of France is usually red, and there goes 

 by the name of the " red old woman." The adjective 

 name of colour changes with that of the fish to green 

 and yellow, but the "old woman" remains. From 

 what Mr. Couch says, these fish appear to have habits 

 not unlike those of the common stickleback, the 

 largest individuals being lords of their respective 

 districts. The red wrasse (Labrus mixtus) female, is 

 distinguished by the three dark and four light rose- 

 coloured spots which appear at the base of the hinder 

 part of the back fin. These vary in number, so that 

 this species is also called the " double spotted," when 

 there are but two dark spots. The rest of the body 

 is usually a fine red on the upper, and a pale orange 

 on the lower part of the body. Mr. Kent tells us that 



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