GEN. LABRUS. THE COOK WRASSE. 295 



to brown, which tint is extended along the middle 

 of the flanks to the tail, in form of a thin narrow 

 band, so that the posterior part of the back is often 

 of an orange or lilac-yellow : five longitudinal streaks, 

 more or less broad, blue, and sometimes more or 

 less violet, traverse that part of the body which 

 has a greenish colour ; the three superior streaks do 

 not advance upon the orange of the back, the lower 

 proceed to the tail. These blue streaks advance to 

 the head, irregularly anastomose, and form a strik- 

 ing net-work on the cheeks. The dorsal fin is 

 orange, with a blue fringe : on its anterior part 

 there, is a large blue marking, which extends some- 

 times only to the eighth ray, and at other times to 

 the thirteenth. The anal fin is of an orange colour, 

 with a blue border ; the caudal entirely blue ; the 

 pectorals are orange, and the ventrals have a blue 

 marking upon their inner edge. In length, the fish 

 sometimes extends to thirteen inches. The habits 

 and food of this species resemble those of other 

 members of the genus. Mr. Couch observes, that 

 all the Wrasses which have an elongated form dif- 

 fer from those with deeper and more solid bodies, in 

 changing their quarters according to the season, and 

 that without any reference to cold or warmth. They 

 enter harbours, and frequent the shallower rocks 

 close to land, during the summer ; but in autumn 

 and winter pass into deeper, but not very deep 

 water. They are but little esteemed in Cornwall 

 as food, and are chiefly sought after as bait for 

 other fish. (Apud Yarrell). 



