SEA WIFE. 285 



vertical line under the thirteenth spinous ray of the dorsal 

 fin. The number of fin-rays, 



D. 16 + 13 : P. 15 : V. 1 + 5 : A. 6 +8 : C. 12. 



The whole of the upper part of the back, neck, and -sides, 

 very dark purple black, becoming lighter on the belly ; lips, 

 and anterior part of the head, flesh colour tinged with pur- 

 ple ; irides blue ; the teeth had all the characters of those of 

 a Labrus, and the branchiostegous rays were five in number. 

 All the fins blue ; the ventrals tipped with black. 



I could not ascertain from what part of our coast this fish 

 had been brought. 



