CHARACTERISTICS OF VALUABLE MARINE FISHES 57 



are behind the breast fins, and the first dorsal is only represented 

 by separate spines : there are no scales but bon}' plates. Only 



Fig. 25.— The Thick-lipped Grey Mullet. 



one species lives in the sea, namely the fifteen-spined stickle- 

 back (Fig. 26). 



Fig. 26. — The P'ifteen-spined or Sea Stickleback. 



The wrasses are distinguished by possessing an extended 

 dorsal fin the greater part of which is spinous, by having strong 



Fig. 27. — The Common or Ballan Wrasse. 



crushing teeth in the throat, and thick fleshy lips over the jaws 

 (Fig. 27). They are shore fishes which live in the neighbourhood 



