98 THE MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND FISHES OF ESSEX. 



cious, but it never reaches the size of G. aculeatus. I think 

 most of our specimens have only nine spines. 



Gasterosteus spinachia, Linn. FIFTEEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 



I have found this fish very commonly in trawling for eels 

 amongst the Zostera marina on the muddy shores of the 

 Blackwater. Unlike the rest of the family, this species is 

 entirely confined to the sea : otherwise, its habits are very 

 much those of its brother Sticklebacks. 



Family L ABRIDGE, Cuvier. 

 Genus LABRUS, Artedi. 



Labrus maculatus, Block. BALLAN WRASSE. 



I have only seen one specimen of this fish taken on the 

 Essex Coast. It is now at Brightlingsea. Our muddy and 

 sandy shores do not suit the habits of this family. 



Genus CRENILABRUS, Cuvier. 



Crenilabrus melops, Cuvier. GOLDSINNY, CORKWING, OR 



GIBBOUS WRASSE. 



The late Dr. Bree describes minutely (Field, December 

 ist, 1866, p. 420) two specimens which were taken on our 

 coast of this so far as Essex is concerned rare fish. He 

 says they were quite unknown to our fishermen. 

 These are the only examples I have heard of. 



Order II. ANACANTHINI, Day. 



Family GADID^E, Cuvier. 

 Genus GADUS, Cuvier. 



Gadus morhua, Linn. COD. 



The value of this fish as food is well-known. Most of 

 those of large size captured in the Essex estuaries are not in 

 a fit condition for the table, being more or less diseased. 



