WRASSES. "71 



their thick, lips, which are sometimes internally folded, a peculiarity 

 which has given to them the German term of " Lip-fishes/^ They 

 feed chietly on moUusks and crustaceans, their dentition being- 

 admirably adapted for crushing hard substances. Others feed on 

 corals, echinoderms, etc. ; a few are herbivorous. Nearly all are 

 distinguished by their beautiful coloration, and some of the species 

 are, perhaps, the most gorgeously coloured in the whole class of 

 Fishes. Several species occur on the British coasts, belonging to 



Fi-. 62. 



Wrasse {Lahrus maculatus). 



the genera Lahrus, Crenilabrns, Ctenolabriis, Acantholabrus, Centro- 

 labrus, and Coris. The Parrot-Wrasses [Scarus and Fseudoscarus) 



Fio-. m. 



Wrasse (Pneudoscarus tranche! ii). (From the Indian Ocean.) 



G 2 



