OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 149 



species is the Cuckoo, or Blue-striped Wrass (Labrus mixtus), 

 No. 94, the male of which, in the adult state, has numerous 

 irregular broad bands and markings of the richest cobalt- 

 blue, distributed upon a general ground colour of orange 

 or paler yellow, these colours during the breeding season 

 becoming greatly intensified, and usually supplemented by 

 an opaque whitish or pale green patch on the top of the head 

 and dorsal region. The female, for a long time regarded 

 as a distinct species, and known by the title of the Three- 

 spotted Wrass (Labrus triinacttlatus], has an orange- 

 red ground colour, variegated only by the presence of 

 three conspicuous black spots, with intervening white 

 patches on the dorsal region in the neighbourhood of the tail. 

 It is a remarkable fact that the young males are similarly 

 coloured, but gradually develope the blue lines, patches, 

 and other markings of the adult fish as they advance 

 towards maturity. The Corkwing, or Baillon's Wrass 

 (Crenilabrus melops\ No. 95, a smaller specise, rarely exceed- 

 ing six inches in length, somewhat resembles young 

 examples of Labrus maculatus, its normal ground colour 

 being green, with bright scarlet and blue reticulations ; but 

 it is to be distinguished from that form by the usual 

 presence of seven or eight obscure vertical bands upon the 

 sides of the body, and a single darker spot close to the 

 base of the caudal fin. Jago's Goldsinny (Ctenolabrus. 

 rupestris), No. 96, has likewise a black spot at the root of 

 the tail, but the ground colour is a rich golden-brown. In 

 the Small-mouthed Wrass, or Rock-cook (Centrolabrus 

 exoletus\ No. 97, the male fish is resplendent with brilliant 

 violet stripes and markings. Two remaining members of 

 the Wrass family that occur very rarely on the British coasts, 

 are the Scale-rayed Wrass (Acantkolabrus palloni), No. 98, 

 and the Rainbow- Wrass (Coris. julis), No. 99, which is a 



