THE WRASSES. 87 



remarkable for the variations of colour it presents 

 at different seasons ; at one time being of the 

 most vivid crimson, at another of a dull bluish 

 grey, and sometimes piebald of the two colours. 

 Equally, and even more vivid in colour, are the 

 various Wrasses, of which many gorgeous sorts 

 are common among the rocks close to the shore. 

 The Julis mediterranean exhibiting the most in- 

 tense hues of blue, green, crimson, yellow and 

 black, arranged in well defined patterns, is the 

 brightest of these painted beauties, and, indeed, 

 exceeds all fishes of the Mediterranean for 

 splendour of colour. Some of the species of 

 Sphyrcena glow with the brightest vermilion. 

 They usually replace the Wrasses, being found 

 in deeper water. 



The Greeks are as fond of the fry as of the 

 adult fish, and to secure it use nets with very 

 small meshes. By this means, they catch also 

 great numbers of the Atherine (Atherina pres- 

 byter, and allied species), still known as aOepivrj. 

 Immense flocks of this little fish may be seen 

 in fine days skipping in long regiments on the sur- 

 face of the water, endeavouring to escape from the 

 needle-like gar-pike. Aristotle enumerates the 

 Atherine among gregarious fishes. At such times, 



