Class IV. WRASSE. 245 



ft grows to the weight of four or five pounds : 

 it bears fome refemblance to a carp in the form 

 of the body, and is covered with large feales. 



The nofe projects ; the lips are large and flefhy, Teeth. 

 and the one turns up, the other hangs down : the 

 mouth is capable of being drawn in or protrud- 

 ed. 



The irides are red : the teeth are difpofed in two 

 rows ; the firft are conic, the fecond very minute, 

 and as if fupporters to the others : in the throat 

 juft before the gullet are three bones, two above 

 of an oblong form, and one below of a triangular 

 lhape; the furface of each rifing into roundifh pro- 

 tuberances: thefe are of fingular ufe to the fifh, to 

 grind its fhelly food before it arrives at the 

 (lomach. 



The dorfal fin confifts of fixteen (harp and fpiny 

 rays, and nine foft ones, which are much longer 

 than the others. 



The pectoral fins large and round, and are com- 

 pofed of fifteen rays. 



The ventral of fix; the firft fharp and ftrong: 

 the anal of three fharp fpines, and nine flexible. 



The tail is rounded at the end, and is formed 

 of fourteen foft branching rays. 



The lateral line much incurvated near the tail. 



Thefe fifh vary infinitely in color : we have feen ' £ 0LOR , 

 them of a dirty red, mixed with a certain dufkinefs ; 

 others moil beautifully ftriped, efpecially about 



R 3 the 



