296 ACANTHOPT. FAMILY OP WRASSES. 



(Sp. 84.) L. trimaculatus. Tliree-spotted, or 

 Red Wrasse. The Three-spotted Wrasse is equally 

 common with the preceding in the Mediterranean, 

 and in the temperate seas of Europe, extending far 

 north ; nor is it uncommon on the British coasts. 

 Mr. Pennant, who conferred upon the species the 

 specific name it still retains, procured a specimen 

 from Anglesey; it has been found frequently on 

 the coasts of Devonshire and Cornwall, and Mr. 

 Yarrell obtained one in the London market. Dr. 

 Neill says that several are taken every summer in 

 the Forth, but Dr. Parnell failed in his endeavours 

 to procure it. In its external characters it differs 

 but little from the Cook Wrasse, except in the 

 colours, which are very uniform in this fish, as in 

 the preceding. The formulary for the rays, which 

 is also very constant, is D. 17/13, A. 3/11. The 

 length of the fish is almost eight inches, very rarely, 

 if ever, exceeding twelve. The colour is a beautiful 

 red, fading on the sides, and becoming rose-coloured 

 on the flanks. On the posterior part of the back 

 there are three black spots, the two anterior of 

 which occupy the base of the dorsal fin, the former 

 placed upon the five anterior soft rays, the latter 

 upon the six posterior ones, two rays remaining free 

 between : the third is placed on the croup of the 

 tail. Some individuals have a fourth spot, of small 

 size, on the last spinous rays of the dorsal; and, 

 more frequently, there is a black spot at the com- 

 mencement of this fin, between the first and third 

 spinous lay. Tlie vertical fins have a beautiful 



