35 2 



THE BALLAN WRASSE. 



the movable mouth 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 ap- 

 paratus capable of being projected and withdrawn with great speed, and each depends 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, tech- 

 nically called the " intermaxillaries." These bones are considerably lengthened, and 

 lie in corresponding 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 flavor. 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 maybe seen swimming about in the clear element, conceal- 

 ing itself among masses of seaweed, and ever and anon darting forth to secure some 

 tempting morsel, such as a passing crab or pawn. 



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

 men 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 coloring of the Ballan Wrasse, but in general 

 the color 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. 



