114 ITS BUSINESS-HABITS. 



rare of twice that size. The colour is green, more or 

 less brilliant ; large and well -coloured individuals may 

 be confounded with the Green Wrasse CLahrus Dono- 

 vani), which is also not rare with us ; but the little 

 Corkwing may be distinguished by having the fore 

 gill-plate minutely toothed along its free edge, and by 

 a black spot on each side of the tail, just before the 

 commencement of the tail-fin. Mr. Yarrell speaks of 

 the Green Wrasse as if it were a great rarity ; but I 

 have had many specimens, some of which agreed accu- 

 rately with Donovan's beautiful figure. It attains six 

 or seven inches in length. To both species Ovid's 

 descriptive line will apply : — 



" Turn viridia squamis, parvo Saxatilis ore :" 



for all the Wrasses have the mouth small, though the 

 lips are thick; and all may be designated by the term 

 Saxatilis, or 'Rock-fish. 



The little Corkwing frequents the fissures in the 

 rocky ledges, and is abundant all along the quays 

 within the harbour, hiding beneath the hanging fringe 

 of Fuci, that grows between tide marks. The prawn- 

 catchers take them abundantly with their dipnets, 

 when raking these sea-weeds ; in company with the 

 Fifteen-spined Stickle-back ( Gasterosteus spinachiaj , 

 and other small harbour-fishes. 



A little Corkwing about two inches long, more than 

 usually pretty, being of a bright green hue, with the 

 caudal spot distinct and black, was a tenant of the 

 Tank from the first. He was a fish of business ; 

 never for a moment did he swim about as if at leisure, 

 but incessantly pursued one occupation, that of search- 



