4 LABRID^. 



line follows at first the curvature of the back ; rising a little at its origin, and 

 keeping near the dorsal line, high up the sides. After descending again at the end 

 of the dorsal fin, it makes an abrupt flexure or elbow, and is continued from this 

 angle in a straight line along the middle. It is rather obscure throughout its 

 whole course ; appearing formed by raised adpressed spine-like points upon the 

 scales. 



The dorsal fin begins in a vertical line above the upper axil of the pectoral fins 

 or point of the opercle, and continues, gradually and regularly becoming rather 

 broader, to within a short distance of the base of the caudal fin. Its whole extent 

 equals about half the length of the entire fish ; and its height is about one quarter 

 of the depth of the body. 



The anal fin commences about the middle point of the body, not reckoning the 

 caudal fin ; or opposite the end of the first third part of the length of the dorsal 

 fin ; to which in shape and breadth and termination it exactly corresponds. The 

 last ray of each is also forked to the base. 



Pectoral fins ovate, rather large and broad, obtuse. Ventral fins ovate, sub- 

 triangular ; placed beneath, but a little before the pectoral fins ; small, free, and 

 without any pointed scale either at their upper (outer) or inferior (inner) axil. 



Caudal fin with the outer rays both above and beneath produced into two 

 slender, almost filamentous points : the intermediate portion slightly convex in the 

 middle. The upper fork is the longest. 



The general colour of the body in a fine-conditioned state of this variety, such 

 as that here figured, of Peixe verde, is the brightest grass-green, resplendent as it 

 were with gold and emeralds ; and each of the scales, except upon the collar, which 

 is plain, is marked with a vertical oblong spot, dash, or stain, of dull red, forming 

 regular and close-set rows or lines from the back down to the belly, which is 

 bluish, or occasionally deep blue, and unspotted. A broad obliquely disposed 

 collar of the richest turquoise-blue surrounds the shoulders just behind the pectoral 

 fins ; bordered, especially behind, with a secondary band or collar of most brilliant 

 coral-red, the hinder edge of which in finely coloured individuals, melts through 

 the richest hues of orange, yellow, and citron, into the prevailing golden-green tint 

 of the body. Another plain but always narrow stripe of brilliant blue or green 

 rises from the fore-axil of the pectoral fins ; I'unning immediately behind the edge 

 or border of the opercle, and ascending towards, but not attaining the nape, which 

 is of a fuller and plainer gi-een than the rest of the body : the spots upon its scales 

 becoming, like the stripe just mentioned upwards, more or less evanescent. The 

 head is most beautifully banded with deep turquoise-blue, waved or zigzag, naiTow 

 stripes, which cross or interlace in different directions, on a dull red ground of 

 varying intensity suffused with brighter pink. The same deep blue colours the 

 base and edges of the dorsal and anal fins, tinges the iris, lips, throat, belly, and 

 ventral fins ; and is the prevailing colour of the caudal fin : but sometimes all 

 these parts except the caudal fin are emerald-green ; and, indeed, generally the 

 first ray and edge of the fore part of the dorsal fin in front of its red stain or patch 

 are green. The dull red ground-colour of the head is heightened on its sides into a 

 deeper suffused patch or band, extending from the eye over the opercle to the fore- 

 axil of the pectoral fins, but not perceptible beyond. The iris is either green or 

 blue, with the inner and sometimes outer edges orange, red, or golden. A broad 

 band of rich violet or dark purple runs along the middle of the dorsal, anal, and 

 forks of the caudal fins : beginning in front of the dorsal in a clear bright coral-red 

 stain, spot, or patch, not very well defined, and spreading more or less over the web 

 of its two or three first rays ; but not extending backwarder than the blue })art 

 of the collar, al>ovc which, rather than over the red part of the same, it principally 

 lies. This patch is always of a full and brilliant tint. The outer edges, and the 



