334 BALLAN WRASSE. Class IV. 



ing rays. The lateral line is much incur vated 

 near the tail. 



These fish vary infinitely in color ; we have 

 seen them of a dirty red, mixed with a certain 

 duskiness ; others most beautifully striped, 

 especially about the head, with the richest 

 colors, such as blue, red, and yellow. Most of 

 this genus are subject to vary ; therefore care 

 must be taken not to multiply the species from 

 these accidental teints, but to attend to the form 

 which never alters. 



The JVelsh call this fish Gwrach, or the old 

 woman; the French, la Vieille ; and the En- 

 glish give it the name of Old Wife. 



2. Ballan. NeiWs Orkney islands. 43. Br. Zool. 4to. iii. 21 6. tab. 44. 



X HIS species, which is different from the pre- 

 ceding, was sent from Scarborough by Mr. 

 Travis. They appear during summer in great 

 shoals off Filey-Bridge : the largest weigh about 

 five pounds. 

 De.scrip- It is of the form of the common wrasse, only 

 between the dorsal fin and the tail is a consider- 

 able sinking ; above the nose is a deep sulcus ; 



