Class IV. ANTIENT WRASSE. 533 



JL HIS species is found in deep water adjacent 

 to the rocks. It will take a bait, though its 

 usual food is shell-fish, and small Crustacea. 



It grows to the weight of four or five pounds : Descrip- 

 it bears some resemblance to a carp in the form 

 of the body, and is covered with large scales. 

 The nose projects ; the lips are large and fleshy, 

 and the one turns up, the other hangs down; 

 the mouth is capable of being drawn in or pro- 

 truded ; the irides are red ; the teeth arc dis- 

 posed in two rows ; the first are conic, the 

 second very minute, and as if supporters to the 

 others ; in the throat just before the gullet are 

 three bones, two above of an oblong form, 

 and one below of a triangular shape ; the 

 surface of each rising into roundish protu- 

 berances ; these are of singular use to the fish, 

 to grind its shelly food before it arrives at the 

 stomach. The dorsal fin consists of sixteen 

 sharp and spiny rays, and nine soft ones, 

 which are much longer than the others ; the 

 pectoral fins large and round, and arc composed 

 of fifteen rays ; the ventral of six ; the first 

 sharp and strong ; the anal of three sharp 

 spines, and nine flexible; the tail is rounded at 

 the end, and is formed of fourteen soft branch- 



