LABRUS.] PISCES (OSSEI) ACANTHOPT. 395 



of bluish gray on its anterior half, occupying three-fourths of the height 

 of the fin; on the posterior half, three round spots of the same colour: 

 anal and ventrals orange-yellow, edged with bluish gray : caudal varie- 

 gated with the same colours. 



Not a very common species. Pennant and Donovan obtained speci- 

 mens from the coast of Anglesea off the Skerry Islands. According to 

 Mr. Thompson of Belfast, it is occasionally met with on the coast of 

 Ireland. The individual described above is one of two, in the collection 

 of Mr. Yarrell, from the London market. The colours are very variable, 

 and at certain periods of the year extremely beautiful. 



72. L. Vetula, Bloch ? (Sea-Wife.) Ascending margin 

 of the preopercle oblique, forming with the basal an obtuse 

 angle : dorsal nearly of equal height throughout : branch- 

 iostegous membrane with four rays. 



L. Vetula, Bloch, Ichth. pi. 293. ? Sea-Wife, Yarr. Brit. Fish. vol. i. 



p. 284. 



LENGTH. Thirteen inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Very similar to the last species, but rather more 

 bulky in proportion to its length : depth about the same : thickness 

 somewhat greater : teeth smaller, and more numerous, especially in the 

 upper jaw : ascending margin of the preopercle more oblique, forming a 

 more obtuse angle with the basal margin ; this angle more immediately 

 under the eye, a vertical from it forming a tangent to the posterior part 

 of the orbit ; (a line similarly drawn in L. variegatus is nearly coincident 

 with the ascending margin, and falls behind the eye at a distance equal- 

 ling the diameter of the eye :) branchiostegous membrane with only four 

 rays*: lateral line rather lower, its course at one-fourth of the depth: 

 scales somewhat larger : dorsal similar, nearly of equal height through- 

 out : anal with the rays of the terminating fourth portion rather longer 

 than the others; (in L. var. the rays are equal throughout:) caudal, 

 pectorals, and ventrals, similar : 



D. 16/13; A. 3/11; C. 13; P. 14; V. 1/5. 



(Colours of a specimen in spirits.) Back and sides for three-fourths 

 of their depth dark brown without spots; lower portion of the sides 

 and belly pale orange-yellow : anterior half of the dorsal with a large 

 oblong space at the base of dusky blue ; remainder of the fin pale, with 

 a row of dark spots, one at the base of nearly every ray : anal and vent- 

 rals orange-yellow, edged with dusky blue : caudal pale, with some of the 

 exterior rays tipped with the same colour. 



The individual described above, the only one which I have seen of this 

 species, is in the collection of the Zoological Society. It was procured in 

 the London market. It so nearly resembles the L. variegatus, that had 

 I not seen the two together and compared them closely, I should have 

 hesitated about admitting them as distinct. I do not feel certain that it 

 is the L. Vetula of Bloch, but it approaches more nearly to that species 

 than any other described one with which I am acquainted. 



* The Labrus Vetula of Bloch is represented by that author as having six branchiostegous 

 rays. 



