THE TESSELATED PARROT-FISH. 



353 



SEVERAL other British species of the same genus are known, such as the GREEN 

 STREAKED-WRASSE, or GREEN-FISH (Labrus Donovant), a rather rare but very beauti- 

 fully colored fish, almost wholly green and slightly streaked. Some naturalists think 

 that this is only the young of the preceding species. The most curiously decorated 

 British species is, however, the THREE-SPOTTED WRASSE {Labrus trimaculatus). This 

 fish is decorated with a rich ruddy orange over the greater part of its body, becoming 

 slightly paler on the sides, and changing to golden yellow on the abdomen, with the 

 slightest possible dash of red. On the upper part of the back, and occupying portions 

 of the dorsal fin, are three large spots of deep rich purple, between which are placed 

 four similarly shaped spots of pale rose. These spots, however, are rather variable in 

 number. 



IN the course of the preceding pages our notice has been drawn to many remarkable 

 forms of fishes, some terrible in their fearful armatures of spines and teeth, some 

 repulsive from their slimy exterior and coldly malignant aspect, and others almost 

 bordering on the grotesque from the odd and eccentric manner in which various parts 



TBSSBLATED PARROT-FISH. -Searus hartd. 



of their structure are modified. The TESSELATED PARROT-FISH of the Ceylonese seas, 

 though not strikingly unique in its external appearance, as many 'of the species already 

 described, is, when closely examined, one of the most wonderfully colored fish in the 

 world. As may be seen by the engraving, the whole body is covered with a beautifully 

 drawn pattern of elongated hexagons, as perfect and regular as those of a honey-comb. 



The colors of this remarkable fish are as follows : The general hue of the Tesse- 

 lated Parrot-fish is azure-blue, covered with a hexagonal network of golden yellow. 

 The oddly shaped head is bright yellow, streaked and spotted with blue. The dorsal 

 and anal fins are brown edged with green, and the pectorals and ventrals are brown 

 with the front rays green. The tail fin is wholly green. The natives call this fish by 

 the name of Laboo Girawah, the former term being the name of a certain gourd 

 or pumpkin which is marked in a somewhat similar fashion. 



The species belonging to this genus are very numerous, and have received their 

 rather appropriate title of Parrot-fishes from the rich b"*t" of their colors and the 

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