BALLAX WRASSE. 277 



taken on the coasts of Down and Antrim. These fish, 

 with many others, taken on various parts of the Irish 

 coast, were exhibited at the Zoological Society by William 

 Thompson, Esq. of Belfast. 



This species occurs along our eastern coast, as well as 

 at various places on the shores of Dorsetshire, Devonshire, 

 and Cornwall. A fine specimen sent to me by Dr. John- 

 ston from Berwick afforded the following measurements, 

 and in its colours had more of the orange red than the 

 London specimen before mentioned. The length of the 

 head, compared to the whole length of head, body, and 

 tail, as one to four; the depth of the body alone equal 

 to the length of the head : the lower edge of the scaly 

 portion of the cheek rounded, the scales only half as large 

 as those on the operculum ; preoperculum without scales, 

 the horizontal and vertical edges forming an angle somewhat 

 obtuse, the ascending line being oblique, the margin entire ; 

 operculum broad, covered with large scales, and ending 

 in a membranous projection over the upper part of the 

 origin of the pectoral fin. The pectoral fin broad and 

 rounded ; the membranes connecting the rays of all the fins 

 spotted with verditer, rather inclining to blue than green ; 

 the fin-rays reddish orange, with six or seven scales in 

 succession between each ray of the caudal fin. Back and 

 sides bluish green, paler on the belly ; all the scales mar- 

 gined with orange red, the margins varying in breadth 

 in different specimens, and thus producing the prevalence 

 of the blue or orange colour ; six rows of scales between the 

 lateral line and the middle portion of the dorsal fin. Head 

 and cheeks bluish green, reticulated with orange red lines ; 

 lips flesh colour ; about eighteen teeth in each jaw, co- 

 nical, those in front the longest ; the tail slightly rounded 

 at the upper and under corner, the tip dusky. 



