462 
YEETEBRATA. 
tributed. They are known by tbe names of Wrasse, Rock-Fish and Old- Wife. They are gener- 
ally of a stout form and moderate size, and 
often of very brilliant colors. 
The Ballan Wrasse, L. ma.culatus, one 
to two feet long, frequents deep gullies and 
rocks where it shelters itself among sea-weed, 
and feeds on crabs. Its flesh is not much 
esteemed. This and several other species, as 
the Sea- Wife, Eed Wrasse, and Eainbow- 
Wrasse, &c,, are common in the European 
waters. 
Qenus CEENILABETJS : Crenilahrus.— 
This includes the Gilt-Head or Connor, 
C. tinea ; it is six to eight inches long, its 
general color being red varied with green. 
It is sometimes called the Golden-Maid. 
Found in the European seas. 
The GoLDFiNNY, C. Cornubicus, is two to 
five inches long ; found in Europe, but less 
abundantly than most other species. 
Genus CTENOLABEUS : Ctenolahrus. 
— This includes the Common Bergall, C. 
ceruleus — Crenilahrus hurgall of Storer — 
familiarly known on our coast as Blue-Fish ; 
at Boston it is called Bhve Perch, and by 
Eastern fishermen Gunner . It is also some- 
times c-aWq^l Nihbler and Chogset. It is six 
to twelve inches long, the color generally 
blue, but varying in different species, some- 
times being orange-yellow. It is common 
on our coast, and its flesh being tolerable, 
our Northern markets are well supplied with 
it. The Spotted Bergall, C. uninotatus, 
is three to five inches long. 
Genus TAUTOGA : Tautoga. — This includes one of the most celebrated of our fishes, the 
Tautog, T. Americana. Its common name is derived from the Mohicans ; it is often called 
Black-Fish, being of a bluish-black color ; it is six to eighteen inches long, and weighs from two 
to ten and even, it is said, to twenty pounds. Its haunts are along rocky shores, where it feeds 
near the ground on small crabs and mollusca. It is a wary fish, bites firmly at the hook, and is 
tenacious of life when taken from the water. The time for catching these fish is said by Dr. 
Mitchill to be thus rudely expressed by the people along the coast : 
" When chestnut leaves are big as thumb-nail 
Then bite Black-Fish without fail ; 
But when chestnut leaves are long as a span, 
Then catch Black-Fish if you can." 
The common bait is the soft-clam. Frank Forester says the best implements for this sport 
are a stout trolling-rod, with a strong flaxen line and a reel. The hooks should be those known 
as Black-Fish hooks, numbers three to ten, according to the angler's taste. This fish is most 
abundant on the coasts from Massachusetts to Sandy Hook. Our large city markets are well 
supplied with it ; it is highly esteemed for the table. 
Several other species of this genus are found in the Indian Ocean, the Eed Sea, and on the 
coast of Norway. One or two other species are also found on this side of the Atlantic. 
THE GILT-HEAD. 
THE GOLDFINNY. 
