THE RED WRASSE. 259 



part of the same fin, and one of the same deep purple colour still far- 

 ther back at the upper part of the fleshy portion of the tail. Alter- 

 nating 1 with the last three dark spots, are four lighter coloured ones, 

 of a delicate rose colour, which appears to have given origin to the 

 name of Double-Spotted Wrasse. There are occasionally but two 

 dark spots at the hinder part of the body. The length of the head 

 measuring from the teeth to the backward projecting angle of the 

 operculum, is, to the head and body taken together, without includ- 

 ing the caudal rays, as one to three ; the depth of the body and dor- 

 sal fin, equal to the length of the head ; the depth of the body alone 

 in a line with the origin of the ventral fins, is, to the whole length 

 of the fish, as one to four ; the scales small. Number of fin rays — 

 D. 30; P. 15; V. 6 ; A. 14; C. 14. 



The red wrasse, or trimaculated wrasse as it is occasion- 

 ally named, has been noticed by naturalists on the coasts of 

 Cornwall and Devonshire, as well as in the Baltic and on 

 the coast of Norway. Dr Neill has recorded it in the Wer- 

 nerian Transactions, as found in the Firth of Forth. In 

 this locality it is undoubtedly a rare fish, as not a single 

 specimen has yet occurred to me from that quarter. The 

 flesh is said to be good food. 



Genus CRENILABRUS. Margin of the preopercu- 

 lum dentated. 



Crenilabrus tinca*. — The Connor. 



Specific Character. — Base of the tail under the lateral line without 

 a black spot ; depth less than one-third of the length ; intervening 

 membranes of the dorsal fin without scales. 



Description. — From a specimen five inches in length. Dorsal line 

 slightly curved, falling gradually from the first ray to the snout ; head 

 compressed, more than one fourth of the whole length ; in a speci- 

 men seven inches long, the head is not one fourth of the entire length. 

 Colour of the upper parts, in the region of the back, bluish-green, 

 tinged with brownish-red ; side lighter, with longitudinal lines of 



* Crenilabrus tinca, Y<ir., Flem. Labrus tinca, Linn., Jen. Ancient 

 Wrasse, Pen,!. Gilt-head, Connor, Golden maid. 



It 2 



