LABPJDJ3. * 263 



As food. — Is not eaten. Parnell found that the flesh when boiled had a bluish- 

 white appearance, and a very disagreeable tarry flavour. 



Habitat. —It has been observed in Norway to the 62° of N. latitude ; it extends 

 along the coast of Denmark and the German Ocean, also the European shores 

 of the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, becoming rarer towards the east. Orkneys 

 and Zetland rare (W. Baikie) ; Banff rare (Edward) ; St. Andrew's not common 

 (Mcintosh) ; Moray Firth often met with (Martin) ; Firth of Forth occasional, 

 while on the rocky coasts of Preston- pans, North Berwick, Largo, and Burntisland 

 it is not infrequently taken (Parnell). Mr. Cordeaux considers he has seen it 

 at Flamborough, though unsuccessful in his attempts to capture it (Yorkshire 

 Vertebrata). Weymouth abundant around the quays in summer and autumn 

 (P. Gosse) ; Devonshire (Montagu) : very common in Cornwall, frequenting rocks 

 close in shore among the sea-weeds ; and the most abundant form on the west 

 coast (Couch). Donovan obtained it from off the Lizard. It has likewise been 

 captured off Somersetshire. 



In Ireland it is found round the coast, and next in frequency among the 

 Labridce to the Ballan, Labrus maculatus. 



It seldom exceeds nine inches in length. The example figured (natural size) 

 was obtained at Brighton, it had the vertical bands on the body much more 

 distinctly marked than is usually the case, while the colours on the fins were 

 very vivid. 



