OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 69 



abnormally developed spine ; branchiostegal rays three or 

 four in number ; air-bladder large. 



The Trumpet or Bellows-fish {Centriscus scolopax), No. 92, 

 a small compressed form, not altogether unlike the Boar- 

 fish {Capros aper), but distinguished from that form by its 

 elongated snout and single, long dorsal spine, is the only 

 member of this small family that has been taken, and then 

 on very rare occasions, in British waters. In common with 

 a few other allied forms it is an essentially sub-tropical 

 type, finding its home in the warmer waters of the Medi- 

 terranean and more southern seas, stray wanderers only 

 reaching these latitudes accidentally. An illustrative 

 example of this singular species is still a desideratum for 

 the Buckland Museum. 



FAMILY XXVIII.— Wrasses (LabHdce). 



Body oblong or elongated, clothed with cycloid scales ; 

 the lips often highly protrusile ; teeth absent from the palate, 

 elsewhere well developed ; dorsal fin single, the spinous 

 portion as long or longer than the soft ; branchiostegal rays 

 five or six in number ; air-bladder present. 



The family of the Wrasses, or Rock-fishes, as they are 

 sometimes called, includes a large number of litoral rock- 

 frequenting fishes, abundantly distributed throughout the 

 temperate and tropical zones, seven or eight species 

 frequenting the British, seas. A structural peculiarity that 

 specially distinguishes many of these fishes, and whence 

 they derive their technical name of Labridce, or Lipped-fishes 

 (from labrtim, a lip), is connected with the formation of 

 their lips, which are very large, fleshy, prehensile, and so 

 folded as to permit of their protrusion to some distance 

 beyond the oral aperture. The family, as a whole, is 



