352 



THE BALLAN WBASSE. 



is suddenly projected with the rapidity of a serpent's stroke, and the victim is seized and 

 swallowed in a moment. 



The entomological reader will doubtlessly perceive the analogy between the Epibulus 

 and the larva of the dragon-fly. Each is aquatic, each is furnished with a peculiar 

 apparatus capable of being projected and withdrawn with great speed, and each depends 

 more on this structure for food than on its swiftness, activity, or strength. 



The movement of the jaw is not merely accomplished by the elongation of the lips and 

 soft parts of the mouth, but by a most curious development of certain bones, technically 

 called the "intermaxillaries." These bones are considerably lengthened, and lie in corre- 

 sponding grooves of the skull, so that they glide backwards or forwards whenever the fish 

 desires to protrude or withdraw its mouth. The Sly Epibulus is a native of Java, Sumatra, 

 and the Moluccas. 



BALLAN WRASSE. Labrus bergylta. 



FROM the many species of the genus Labrus that are found on our coasts, the BALLAN 

 WRASSE has been selected. This fish, otherwise known by the popular names of ANCIENT 

 WRASSE, or OLD WIFE, is not uncommon on the shores of the British Islands, and is one of 

 those species which is mostly found haunting the rocky portions of the shore. 



It is not in any great estimation as an article of food, the flesh being too soft, and not 

 possessing any particularly good flavour. It generally frequents the deep rocky gullies, 

 where the water is tolerably tranquil, except when the waves are beaten into foam by a 

 storm. Here it may be seen swimming about in the clear element, concealing itself among 

 masses of seaweed, and ever and anon darting forth to secure some tempting morsel, such 

 as a passing crab or prawn. 



Mr. Couch remarks concerning this species, that " it takes a bait freely, and fishermen 

 remark that when they first fish in a place, they take but few, and those of a large size ; 

 but on trying the same spot a few days after, they catch a greater number, and those 

 smaller ; from whence they conclude that the large fish assume the dominion of a district, 

 and keep the younger at a distance." 



The Wrasse deposits its spawn in spring or towards the beginning of summer, and, as 

 is usual with most fishes, assumes its brightest apparel previous to performing that duty. 

 There is much uncertainty about the colouring of the Ballan Wrasse, but in general the 

 colour is red above and on the sides, variegated with oval spots of rich bluish green ; the 

 fins are green, sparely spotted with red, and the abdomen is pale orange. It does not 

 attain to any great size, seldom having been known to exceed sixteen or eighteen inches 

 in length, and two or three pounds in weight. 



