28 ' BALL AN WRASS. 



have noticed above, of a tyrant male, from which the imprisoned 

 females had been delivered by his death. 



As the Wrass is not much sought after by professional 

 fishermen, and for the most is only used as bait for other 

 fish, or for lobsters and crabs, it sometimes lives long enough 

 to shew signs of advanced age, the chief of which is partial 

 or utter blindness; and in this condition they occasionally 

 wander until their ill-chance leads them to the dangers of the 

 shore. This defect of sight is sometimes produced by an 

 opaque cloud, which covers the usual transparent cornea of 

 the eye; and at other times it has its seat in the substance 

 of the crystalline lens within, in which case it is the same 

 with what in man is termed the cataract. 



The Ballan Wrass is common on all the coasts of Britain, 

 where the rocky bottom is such as to afford it food and 

 shelter; and it is also found along the western shores of 

 Sweden and Norway. It appears to be less common in the 

 Mediterranean, and Eisso says it is caught at Nice in July, as 

 if it were subject to some periodical movement, which is not 

 the case with us. 



The spawn is shed in spring, and the young, of small size, 

 are seen about the borders of rocks, at the ebb of tide, through 

 the summer. 



The Ballan Wrass is usually from fourteen to sixteen inches 

 in length, with a weight of seven or eight pounds, and it has 

 been known to reach the length of nearly two feet. The body 

 solid, compressed, moderately deep, the shape sloping gradually 

 from the nape to the point of the upper jaw, which protrudes 

 a little beyond the lower. The lips fleshy and prominent, 

 the upper more so than the lower, both having raised striated 

 lines. Teeth firm, stout, slightly incurved, regular in the jaw; 

 a double pair, more concealed, separate from each other, in 

 front of the palate; a membranous veil forward in the mouth 

 above and below, the latter occupying the place of the 

 tongue. Jaws extensile. Nostrils above the line of the eye; 

 a deep depression in front between the eyes. Eyes lateral, 

 prominent. Body covered with oblong scales, the free portion 

 of each clothed with a fine membrane in which the colour 

 resides: the gill-covers also have scales, but none on the top 

 of the head or before the eyes. Lateral line gently bent 



