43 



CORKWING. 



Goldfi.nny, Pennant; pi. 97, 3. Donovan; pi. 72. 



Lahrus rornuhiensis, Turton's Linna3vis. 



Crenilahrus cormibicus, Yarrell; British Fishes, vol. i, p. 328. 



" " Jenyns; Manual, p. 398. 



" melops, GuNTHER; Cat. Br. M., vol. iv, p. 80. 



This is the most abundant of the Wrasses which are found 

 on the west coasts of the kingdom, so that a boy has been 

 known to catch sixty with a line at one time. It is perhaps 

 less numerous as we proceed northward, but it is met with 

 on the coasts of Sweden and Norway. It keeps in shallower 

 water than the generality of this family, and is often seen in 

 the gullies of rocks half uncovered by the ebbing tide, where 

 it feeds on crustaceous animals, and is always ready to take a 

 bait. In search of food it also wanders in various directions; 

 and an observer sitting on a rock as the tide is flowing may 

 perceive considerable numbers passing hastily in companies of 

 two or three from one clump of oreweed to another, along 

 the beach, for it is in such situations they expect to supply 

 their Avants, and they do not remain long at a distance from 

 concealment or shelter. 



In common with other Wrasses, the roe of the Corkwing is 

 shed in spring; and the young, of a pale green colour, and 

 perhaps less than an inch in length, are seen basking or 

 loitering in shallow water on the borders of rocks through the 

 summer. The full-grown fishes will also remain in pools of 

 the rocks, where they are not unfrequently caught in the 

 shrimp-net. No use is made of this fish as food. 



The Corkwing seldom exceeds five or six inches in length; 



-. deep in the body, and compressed, so that in many instances 



the depth will be one third of the length. The head slopes 



in more or less of a waved line from the origin of the dorsal 



