527 



CUPREOUS LABRUS. 



Labrus Cupreus. L. $ubargente,us, capite dor so pinnisque sub- 

 cupreis. 



Subargenteous Labrus,, with head, back, and fins tinged with 



copper-colour. 

 Johnius Aneus. Block, t. 357. 



r General habit that of the former species, but 

 rather broader : lower jaw rather longer than the 

 upper : teeth sharp, and of moderate size : scales 

 rather large : back, dorsal fins, and tail of a dusky 

 tinge, but with a strong cast of coppery red towards 

 the base, pectoral and ventral fins bright copper- 

 red, and, as in the former species, of a lanceolate 

 shape. Native of the Indian seas, and called by the 

 natives of Malabar by the name of Anei KattaleL 

 These fishes seem equally allied to the Labri and 

 the Scice?uz, and might perhaps be arranged with 

 equal propriety under the latter genus, with which 

 they agree in many particulars relative to habit or 

 general appearance. 



The same apology must be made for the history 

 of this genus as of the preceding; the species being 

 extremely numerous and very little understood. It 

 is by no means improbable that many of the Labr i 

 may be rather varieties than species truly distinct ; 

 and it may be added, that several may with equal 



