304 ACANTHOPT. FAMILY OF WRASSES. 



distinguished from the Lahrits mixtus by the ascend- 

 ing line of the pre-opercle being much more oblique, 

 forming with the inferior margin a more obtuse 

 angle; bv the six spinous rays at the commence- 

 ment of the anal fin, and by the teeth being smaller 

 and more numerous, especially in the ujDper jaw. 

 The formula of the fin-rays is 



D. 16/13— P. 15— V. 1/5— A. 6/8— C. 12. 



The whole of the upper parts of the body were of a 

 dark purple black, becoming lighter on the sides; 

 the lips and anterior part of the head w^ere flesh- 

 coloured, tinged with purple ; the irides blue : the 

 gill-rays five in number; all the fins blue; the 

 ventrals tipped with black. Mr. Yarrell could not 

 discover from what part of the coast the fish had^^ 

 been brought, and far less obtain any information 

 regarding its particular habits. 



(Sp. 92.) A. exoletus. The Small-mouthed "Wrasse, 

 or Rock-Cock. A. microstoma of Valenciennes. 

 (PI. XXIII.) — This species has been long known 

 on the Cornish coast under the name of Rock -Cock, 

 where it is occasionally caught in the pots set for 

 crabs, and whence Mr. Couch transmitted two 

 specimens to Mr. Yarrell, who previously was un- 

 acquainted with the fish. In the year 1836, Mr. 

 Tliompson procured one specimen, found on the 

 beach of the county of Antrim; and in 1837, had 

 an opportunity of examining three others, obtained 

 in the same and neighbouring county of London- 

 derry, during the progress of the Ordnance Survey. 



