CHANNEL ISLANDS FISHES. 61 



This fish, whether it be the same species as the preceding, or distinct, is 

 very plentiful on all our rocky coast. 

 *StPiped Wrasse. Cuckoo Wrasse Cuckoo Fish. Labrus mia-tus, lAn.., Yar., 

 G-un. Lahrus variegatus, Donovan. 



This resplendent species is tolerably common in rather deep water on 

 the coast of all the island?. 



*Three-Spotted. Wrasse. Lahms trwrnculahis, Jen., Yar., Gmi. 



This is the female of the preceding species. During the breeding season 

 the colours are as follows : 



In the male, Lahms nnxtiis, the back is reddish orange, gradually passing 

 into lemon yellow on the under side. A number of stripes of varying shades 

 of blue, from deep ultramarine to sky-blue, usually five in number, run more 

 or less parallel to each other along the sides. The head is sometimes uni- 

 form blue, at others a mottling of blue and waxy pink. The dorsal, pelvic, 

 anal, and caudal fins are edged with blue. In the female, - the so-termed 

 Labnis trimacnlatus,— the colours are: Reddish orange on the back, passing 

 by degrees into lemon yellow beneath. Three conspicuous black spots, 

 about half an inch in diameter, occur on the posterior dorsal end of the body ; 

 the foremost of these spots reaching a little way on the dorsal fin. 



As winter approaches, the male loses his vividly coloured stripes, until 

 only a faint indication of them remains ; and on close observation there are 

 traces of the three black spots, as in the female. At the same time, the 

 female partly loses the black spots, and faint traces of blue lines along the 

 sides, as in the male, become apparent. These observations were made on 

 specimens in the Jersey Aquarium. 



*Roek Cock. SmaU-moKthcrJ Wrasse. Acaiitholahras rxoJcta , Yar., Jen. Coi- 

 trolahriis e.roletus, Gunther. 



Abundant on the rocky shores of all the islands. This, and the following 

 (its female) are easily distinguished from the young of the other Lahridce 

 which in most respects they resemble, by their having the edge of the outer 

 gill-coverts, — the pre-operculum,— finely toothed. 



*Corkwing'. Golflfinny. Creitilahrii.s )neIo2)s, Gunther. Crcnilahrtiscorniihiensxs, 

 Yar., Jen. 



This fish, ranked as a species, is the female of the preceding [Acanthola- 

 hrus exoleta). Its colour is as follows: During the breeding season, adult 

 females are of an orange-buff tint, with irregular blotches of blackish brown. 

 There is a conspicuous black spot at the side of the tail. As winter ap- 

 proaches, the black spot becomes less distinct, and the general body tint 

 becomes darker. On close examination the outlines of diamond-shaped 

 markings, as in the male, become apparent. The young of both sexes are 

 alike, a compromise between the coloration of the adults 



It is remarkable that this little fish is the most liable of all its tribe to 

 the attacks of the large Isopod crustacean Anilocra. Close on twenty per 

 cent, of the specimens taken on the Jersey coast have a pair, -male and 

 female,— of these parasites tightly affixed to the side of the head, near the 

 eye. 



*Cod. Morrhiia vulgaris, QwN., Yar. Gadus morrhi(a,Gui\i\ieic. Gade morrhue, 

 Lac. 



Pretty constant on the shores of all the islands, but not in large number, 

 nor of maximum size. 



*Bib. Pouer Cod. Gadus hnmitUH, Lin. Morrhua ntii/uta, Flem., Yar. Local 

 name : " Pout Whiting,^'' " Flahheau.'''' 



Very common and constant on all our shores. 



Whiting". Merlangus vulgaris, Flem., Yar, Gadus merlangus, Gunther. 

 Constant, but not abundant, on all our shores. 



*Pollaek Whiting". Gadus poUachius, Lin., Gun. Mcrlangus poUachius, 

 Flem., Yar., Jen. 



Abundant and constant on all our shores. 



Coalfish. Merlaugvs carhonarius, Lin. 



This is a northern species, but is occasionally taken on our shores, and 

 sold as the Pollack, which it closely resembles. 



