X0 GENERA AND SPECIES. 



in its pectorals 16, and in its ventrals a spine and 5 rays. The first 

 dorsal is almost semicircular, being highest in the middle; the 

 second dorsal is not so high ; in the anal the third spine is the 

 longest ; in the ventrals the spine is strong. The lateral line has 72 

 scales, and curves gently downwards from the first dorsal. The mouth 

 reaches to the eye ; there are 2 distinct spines on the operculum, 

 and well marked serrations on the hinder edge of the praeoperculum. 

 In colour the Bass is a deep bluish grey above, and silvery below, 

 with a dark spot on the gill cover under the spines ; the vertical 

 fins are grey, the others yellowish ; the eye is silvery. In length it 

 reaches 18 inches. It is a summer fish, returning from the deep 

 sea to the coast from May to November, occasionally ascending 

 some distance up the rivers, but usually found among rocks or near 

 wooden piers, feeding close to the surface on small fishes, Crustacea, 

 and seaweeds. 



Labrus. Plates xiii. and xiv., LABRID&. 



104. maculatus, BALLAN WRASSE. Body plentifully spotted with 



white above and below the lateral line. 



105. donovani, COMBER WRASSE. Body with a few white spots 



below the lateral line, and with an incomplete white 

 stripe. 



106. lineatus, GRKEN WRASSE. Green with yellow streaks. 



107. mixtus, STRIPED WRASSE. Orange with blue stripes and no 



vertical bars. 



The Ballan Wrasse has a long dorsal, in which there are 20 or 

 21 spines, and from 9 to n rays; in the anal are three spines, 

 and from 8 to 10 rays, in the caudal are 14 rays, in the pectorals 

 14 or 15, and in the ventrals a spine and 5 rays. The dorsal rays 

 are half as long again as the spines, which are all of much the 

 same height. The dorsal begins just behind the base of the 

 pectorals. In the lateral line there are from 41 to 47 scales. Mouth 

 extends to the fore nostril ; lips very thick ; teeth in a single row on 

 the jaws, and prominent. Praeoperculum serrated when young. In 

 colour this species varies, but it nearly always has spots, and never has 

 a white side stripe or is green with yellow streaks. It attains over 16 

 inches in length. It lives in moderately deep water, on rocky 

 ground where seaweeds are plentiful. 



The Comber Wrasse and the Green Wrasse are really varieties of 

 the Ballan, and resemble it in every way except in colour, as noted 

 above. 



In the Striped Wrasse there are from 16 to 18 spines in the 

 dorsal, and from n to 14 rays; in the anal there are 3 spines and 

 from 10 to 12 rays, in the caudal from 13 to 15 rays, in the pectorals 

 17 rays, in the ventrals a spine and 5 rays. The dorsal begins just 

 over the base of the pectorals, and is level throughout, the spines 

 and rays being of the same height. In the lateral line there are 

 from 50 to 60 scales. The lips are very thick and the teeth 

 prominent. Orange, lighter below, is generally its colour, the male 

 having blue stripes radiating from the eye, two of which extend to 

 the caudal, one above the lateral line and the other below it, the 



