7. ACANTHOLABRUS. 91 



The stomach passes gradually into the intestine ; the mucous 

 membrane of both is laid in numerous reticulated folds ; a small 

 circular valve separates the lower fourth of the intestine from the 

 upper portion. The intestine is short, and makes only one complete 

 circumvolution. Air-bladder large, simple, firmly attached to the 

 sides of the abdomen. 



Skeleton. — The longitudinal axis of the maxillary is straight, and 

 not curved as in Lahriis and Crenilahrus ; occipital crest very low. 

 The lower pharjmgeal bone has a straight posterior margin, and is 

 armed with conical teeth, the posterior being the largest. The ab- 

 dominal portion of the vertebral column is scarcely shorter than the 

 caudal. 



7. ACANTHOLABRUS *. 



Acaiitbolabrus, sp., Cnv. Sf Val. xiii. p. 242. 



Body moderately compressed, oblong, covered with scales of mode- 

 rate size ; imbricate scales on the cheeks and opercles. Teeth in 

 the jaws in a band, those of the outer series conical, strong ; no 

 posterior canine tooth. Dorsal spines numerous, 20-21 ; anal spines 

 more than three. Lateral line not internipted. 



Mediterranean ; western coasts of Europe. 



The description of the teeth given by Valenciennes agrees only 

 with a portion of the species ; the others have the single series of 

 teeth of the true Lahri. 



1. Acantholabnis palloni. 



Lutjanus palloni, Risso, Ichth. Nice, p. 263. 

 Ci-euilabrus exoletus, Risso, Eur. 3ferid. iii. p. 319. 

 Acantliolabrus palloni, Cuv. (^ Val. xiii. p. 243. pi. 375. 

 Crenilahrus luscus, Lowe in Trans. Zool. Soc. ii. p. 187 (not L,). 

 Acantholabnis imbricatus, Lowe in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, p. 86, Sc 1843, 

 p. 87, and Tnaw, Zool. Soc. iii. p. 10. 



D. |. A. |-. L. lat. 45. L. transv. 4/16. Vert. 18/18. 



The height of the body is less than one-fourth of the total length. 

 A black spot on the back of the tail, at the base of the caudal fin ; 

 another on the last dorsal spines (sometimes absent). 



Mediterranean ; Madeira ; coast of Cornwall. 



a. Adult : stuffed. Cornwall. From Mr. Couch's Collection as A. 

 couchii (anal spines five). 



* 1. Labrus Tctiila, Yiirr. Brif. Fish. Ist edit. i. p. 284; Jen. Man. p. 395 (not 

 BL). — Acantholabnis yarrellii, Cuv. ^ Val. xiii. p. 250 : Yarr. Brit Fish. 

 2nd edit. i. p. 339, 3rd edit. i. p. 516.— Nilsson {Skand. Faun. iv. p. 278) 

 has suggested that Yarrell examined an abnormal specimen of Labrus 

 mixtu.'', in which three of the soft rays were transformed into spines. 

 1 fully concur with this opinion, and would further remark, that this 

 typical specimen does not appear to hare been preseryed. 



