257 



SPINY-FINNED FISHES. 



THE remaining fishes belong to Cuvier's first Order (Acan- 

 thopterygii). They have the skeleton of hone, and the dorsal 

 fins, as already mentioned (p. 238), supported in part by rays 

 which are spinous and undivided. In all of them the gills are 

 arches, presenting the pectinated or comb-like structure so 

 well known in our most common and valuable fishes. 



Labridce. The first family we shall mention is that of the 

 Wrasse, of which there are many species possessing brilliant 

 colours blue, green, orange, and red and one a Mediter- 

 ranean species, which has been taken on the English coast, 

 has so many bright tints intermingled in his costume, that he 

 is appropriately termed the "Rainbow Wrasse." The Ballan 

 Wrasse (Labrus maculatus) is sometimes taken off the rocky 

 parts of the coast of Down and Antrim, measuring about 

 eighteen inches in length. We have heard it called in the 

 Belfast market the " Old Wife." In Plymouth market, the 

 females of the Blue or Grey Skate (Raia batis) are called 

 " maids" and "good wives." We have already mentioned 

 the Fishing Frog (Lophius piscatorius, p. 226), a species which 

 belongs to another family (Lophiadce) , and stated that it is 

 also called the Angler. But these are not its only names, for 

 it has as many aliases as other persons of equivocal character, 

 being known as the Sea Devil, and in Scotland by the expres- 

 sive, though not very euphonious, appellation of " Wide Gab." 



Golioidce. Among the Gobies and Blennies of this family, 

 there is one species which brings forth its young alive, and 

 is hence called the "viviparous Blenny." Some are re- 

 markable for their tenacity of life. 



Mugilidce. In connexion with the family of the Mullet, an 

 interesting fact has been established that the Mugil chelo, 

 or thick-lipped grey Mullet of Cuvier a species of extreme 

 rarity on the southern coast of England is that which is 

 most abundant on the eastern shores of Scotland, and along 

 the opposite coast of Ireland. In the Bay of Belfast they are 

 very plentiful, especially where the waters of the river Lagan 

 mingle with those of the sea. Mr. Thompson states that, on 



