136 DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 



Labrus tetricus (Nob.), Grim Wrasse. — Labrus tetricus, Richardson, Zool. Proceed., 



June 25, 1839, and March 10, 1840. 



L. squamis minutis in ordinibus duobus, ad marginem anteriorem superiorem preoper- 

 culi instructis ; operculo squamis majoribus in seriebus ternis quaternisve dispositis 

 tecto. 

 Radii.— Br. 6-6; P. 13; D. 9|11 ; V. 1|5; A. 3|10; C. 14. 



This Tasmanian Wrasse and the following one are noted by Mr. Lempriere as being 

 coarse food, disagreeable to some palates, but not unwholesome. Judging from the 

 contents of their intestines, they feed much on Crustacea. 



Form. — Labrus tetricus has a short and rather bluff head, which measures one-fourth 

 of the total length, caudal included : the height of the tail is nearly one-half of that of 

 the body at the pectorals ; and the greatest height of the body is about equal to one- 

 third and eight-tenths of a third of the whole length. The scaleless parts of the head 

 are clothed with thick skin studded with small pores, which appear a little elevated 

 as the surface dries, and at the same time the suborbitar, cranium, margin of the orbit, 

 and preoperculum become very rough and irregular. Three or four rows of large thin 

 scales, about half the size of those of the body, and not regularly disposed, cover the 

 operculum and part of the suboperculum ; and two rows of very small scales run close 

 before the anterior margin of the upper limb of the preoperculum from its top till the 

 curve at the angle is complete, leaving a large naked cheek. There are eleven teeth in the 

 outer row in each intermaxillary and limb of the lower jaw, exclusive of one pretty large 

 straight canine tooth, with a small one behind it on the posterior extremity of each in- 

 termaxillary. The teeth run in straight Unes on each side of each jaw, so that when the 

 mouth is open and viewed in front, they form a rectilinear rhomboidal figure. The in- 

 terior row of teeth is small, and not very visible except in the dried specimen. The 

 pharyngeal teeth have the usual generic form. The intermaxillary lips are plaited iuto 

 seven or eight shallow folds, the inner fold being studded by minute wart-like papilla. 



Tlie scales covering the body are large and thin, their membranous edges splitting 

 and curling as they dry. There are twenty-six rows between the gill-opening and the 

 caudal, besides three rows more crowded lying over the bases of the caudal rays. The 

 lateral line runs straight from the supra-scapular till it comes opposite to the end of the 

 dorsal, when it makes a bend downwards for the full breadth of one scale, after which 

 it continues its course through the centre of the tail. On each scale it is marked by a 

 slender undulating tube, which suddenly branches by three or four successive bifurca- 

 tions in an arbuscular manner. The ventral fins are pointed, the first and second soft 

 rays being the longest. The dorsal spines increase a little in length from the first to 

 the ninth, which does not however exceed the former by above one-third. The soft 

 rays are a httle longer than the last spinous one, but are nearly equal among themselves, 

 as are also the anal ones. The caudal is even at the end, or when fully spread out very 

 slightly convex. The spines of the vertical fins generally are rigid, but rather slender. 



