WRASSES; PARROT-FISH; GAR-FISH. 63 



625. The LABUID.E, or Wrasses, forming the first family of 

 the spiny-finned species, have fleshy lips, smooth scales, and an 

 uninterrupted lateral line. The lower pharyngeal bones are 

 completely fused together, and furnished with broad grinding 

 teeth. The mouth is protrusible and armed with large teeth, 

 and the colours are for the most part very brilliant. Several 

 species are found upon our own coasts, but they are not in much 

 repute, and are known among the fishermen by the name of 

 ' k Old Wives of the Sea." They chiefly frequent rocky shores, 

 and for this reason are often called Rock-fish. This family also 

 includes the remarkable genus Scarus, or Parrot-fish ; which is 

 furnished with large convex rounded jaws, and these are covered 

 with hard, scale-like teeth, which succeed each other from the 

 rear to the front in such a manner, that the bases of the newest 

 form a cutting edge. Numerous species of these Fish inhabit 

 tropical seas ; many of them are remarkable for the brilliancy of 

 their colours. These Fishes appear destined to restrain the ex- 

 tension of the stony Corals, on the newest layers of which they 

 are enabled, by the immense strength of their jaws and teeth, to 

 browse without difficulty, digesting the animal matter it con- 

 tains, and setting free the carbonate of lime in a chalky state. 



The POMACENTRID^E, or Spiny Wrasses, have the lower pha- 

 ryngeal bones fused together like the Wrasses, but their scales 

 are rough, their lateral line is interrupted, their preopercula are 

 toothed or spinous, their lips are not fleshy, and the spinous rays 

 of the dorsal fin are destitute of membranous appendages. They 

 are found in the seas of hot climates. The CHROMIDJE, on the 

 contrary, are generally inhabitants of the fresh waters ; they re- 

 semble the preceding in many respects, but possess a smooth 

 preoperculum and the fleshy lips of the true Wrasses. Their 

 pharyngeal bones are united by a suture. Unlike the Labridcr, 

 which are very indifferent eating, these Fishes appear to be good, 

 and one species which is caught in the Nile is looked upon as 

 one of the best fishes produced by that river. 



626. The soft-finned species of this group all belong to the 

 family of the SCOMBERESOCID.E, or Gar-fish, the scientific name 

 of which has reference to the resemblance presented by its mem- 



