44^ DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSEUM. 



very pretty fish with a smooth skin. We have 

 four species of them. 



The third family, that of the labroidece com- 

 prehends several genera; they have long and 

 scaly bodies. The first genus, that of the labrus, 

 is characterized by the thickness of its fleshy 

 lips. M. Cuvier has divided it into seven sub- 

 genera. The first, that of the labrus proper 

 (rainbow fish), to which belong the varying la- 

 brus (l.turdus), the louche of the Mediterranean, 

 and the anile labrus (/. vetulci) from the North 

 seas, a beautiful fish striped with blue and orange. 

 2d. The julis, Cuv.. which differs from the labrus 

 in not having scales on its head. We have forty- 

 seven species; one of which from the Mediter- 

 ranean (/. julis), jurella labrus, is distinguished 

 by its colour, which is a fine blue or violet on 

 the upper parts with an undulating orange stripe 

 on each side. 3d. The crenilabri, Cuv., of which 

 we have forty-nine species, mostly from the Medi- 

 terranean, and all beautifully coloured. 4 tn - The 

 ephibuliy Cuv. ; amongst which is the insidious 

 sparus, {sparus insidiator), remarkable for the 

 great elasticity of its snout, to which it suddenly 

 gives the form of a tube to catch the small fish 

 within its reach. This species is rarely found 

 in collections of natural history. 5th. The elopes, 

 Lin., which have a long snout, like the ephi- 



