302 ACANTHOPT. FAMILY OF WRASSES. 



specimen, when first found, was described as being 

 of a rich pink or rose-colour, intermixed upon the 

 sides with golden yellow, and showing indications of 

 darker transverse bands on the back ; the fins were 

 rosy-pink mixed with yellow. Upon the anterior 

 part of the dorsal fin there was a deep black spot, 

 occupying the greater part of the membrane of the 

 first three rays, and another upon the upper margin 

 of the base of the caudal. These markings con- 

 tinued unaltered in spirits. Young individuals, 

 Mr. Yarrell states, are of a uniform flesh-colour, the 

 fins being still lighter ; ,and the black spots being 

 still conspicuous, they prove a valuable indication 

 Mr. Nilsson says that they are liable to variations, 

 and some taken in northern localities are tinged with 

 green. 



Gen. .XL VIII. ACANTHOJLABRUS. This genus 

 corresponds with jfche preceding, excepting that the 

 outer range of teeth are conical and large, and have 

 behind them a second row, in which they are small 

 and form a narrow band ; the number of the spinous 

 rays of the anal fin is also greater. Of this limited 

 genus, three frequent the British shores. 



(Sp. 90.) A. Couchii. Couch's Wrasse. The Scale- 

 rayed Wrasse. M. Valenciennes having recently 

 established the present genus, and finding that 

 English Naturalists had mistaken the Scale-rayed 

 Labrus for the Labrus luscus of Linnaeus, in assign- 

 ing it its new position, has conferred on it the name 

 of the well-known Ichthyologist of Polperro, who 

 originally described it. Mi. Couch procured it on 



