WR A 
take a bait, though it's native food be fheli-fifh, 
and the fmaller cruftaceous animals. 
Wrasse, Bimaculated ; the Labrus Bimacu- 
lata of Linnasus. This fpecies has a pretty deep 
body, of a light colour, marked ir. the middle on 
each fide with a round brown fpot, and another 
on the upper part of the bafe of the tail. The 
lateral line is incurvated ; the branchioftege rays 
are fix; the firft fifteen rays of ihe dorfal fin are 
fpinv, the other eleven foft, and lengthened by 
a fkinny appendage ; the perioral hns confift: of 
fifteen rays; the ventral of fix, tlie firft fpiny, 
the fecond and third terminating in a (lender 
briftle. The anal fin is pointed, the four firft 
ravs being (hon and fpiny, the reft long and 
foft. 
This filli is a native of the Mediterranean, and 
is alfo found fometimes in the Eritifti feas. 
Wrasse, Ballan. This variety (for it does 
not appear to conftitute a diftinfi. fpecies) is an- 
nually caught in great abundance off Scarbo- 
rough, where it is frequently found to weigh five 
pounds. 
In fhapp, it refembl-es the common Wrafi^e; ex- 
cept that between the dorfal fin and tfie tail there 
is a confiderable depreffion, above the nofe a deep 
fulcus, and on the fartheft cover of the gills a 
deprf ffion radiated from the centre. The bran- 
chioftegous rays are four; the dorfal fin has thir- 
ty-one rays, twenty fpiny, the reft foft ; the pec- 
toral fins confift of fourteen rays; the ventral of 
fix ; and the anal of twelve. 
The tail is rounded at the extremity ; and at 
the bottom, for about a third part of the way, 
between each rav, there is a fcries of fcales. The 
ufual colour is yellow, fpotted with orange. 
Wrasse, Trimaculated. This fpecies, 
which is found on the coaft of Anglefea, mea- 
fnres about eight inches. It is of an oblong 
form: the nof.^ is long; th® teeth are flender; and 
the eyes are large. The branchioftegous rays are 
five in number. The dorfal fin is com,pofed of 
feven teen fpiny rays, and thirteen foft ones ; and 
beyond each extends a long nerve. The peftoral 
fins are round, and confift of fifteen branched 
rays; the ventral of fix rays, the firft fpiny; and 
the anal of twelve, the three firft (hort, very 
ftrong and fpiny, the others foft and branched. 
The tail is rounded ; the lateral line is ftraight at 
the beginning of the back, but becomes in- 
curvated tov/ards the tail. The body is covered 
with large red fcales ; and the covers of the gills 
v/ith iinall ones. On each fide of the lower part 
of the dorfal fin are two large fpots ; and there is 
a third between the fin and the tail. 
Wrasse, Striped. This fpecies was firft dif- 
covered by Pennant on the coaft of Angiefea. It's 
form is oblong, and it meafures nearly ten inches. 
The lips are large, double, and reverted. In the 
number of rays in the dorfal, ventral, and pec- 
toral fins, it refembles the Trimaculated W^rafle ; 
but the anal fin has fifteen rays, the three firft 
ftrong and fpiny. The tail is nearly even at the 
extremity. The covers of the gills are cinereous, 
ftriped with a beautiful yellow ; the fides are 
marked with four parallel lines of greenifii olive, 
and the fame number of an elegant blue. The 
back and belly are red, the laft being much paler 
than the former. Along the beginning of the 
dorfal fin there is a broad bed of rich blue ; the 
middle part is white ; the reft red. A dark olive 
fpot appears at the bafe of the pedloral fins ; the 
Vol/IL 
W R E 
extremities of the anal and ventral fins are of a 
bright blue colour; the upper half of the tail is 
of the fame hue ; and the lower part of it's rays 
is yellow. 
Wrasse, Gibbous. To Pennant we are in- 
debted for the defcription of this fpecies, which 
was caught off Angiefea, It's length is about 
eight inches; it's figure is deep and elevated, the 
back being vaftly arched, and very finarp. From 
the rife of the head to the nofe there is a fteep de- 
clivity ; above each eye there is adufl<-y femilunar 
fpot; the neareft cover of the gills is beautifully 
ferrated ; the firft fixteen rays of the dorfal fin are 
ftrong and fpiny, the reft foft and branched ; the 
peftoral fins confift of thirteen rays ; the ventral 
of fix; and the anal of fourteen, of which the 
three firft are ftrongly aculeated. The tail is 
large, rounded at the extremity, and furnifiied 
with branched rays, their extremities extending 
beyond the webs. The lateral line is incurvated 
towards the tail ; the gills and body are covered 
with large fcales ; and the colours are an agree- 
able intermixture of green, orange, red, and blue. 
WREATH. An appellation by which fome 
conchulogifts exprcfs the turbo. See Turbo, 
WREN. A well-known bird, of which there 
are feveral fpecies. 
Wren, Common; the Motacilla Troglodytes 
of LinnEus. This fpecies weighs about three 
drams; and is four inches and a half long from 
the tip of the bill to the extremity of the tail. The 
head and upper part of the body are of a deep 
reddifin brown colour; and above each eye there 
is a ftroke of white. The back, the coverts of the 
wings, and the tail, are marked with fiender tranf- 
verle lines of black; and the quill -feathers with 
bars of black and red. The throat is of a yel- 
lowifa white hue; the belly and fides are crolTed 
with duficy and pale reddifn brown lines; and the 
tail is interfered with duficy bars. 
The W ren may be placed among the fineft of 
our Englifii finging-birds. It continues it's me- 
lody throughout the winter, except in extremely 
fevere frofts ; and both it's voice and manners are 
full of vivacity. The female builds a curious 
neft, of an oval fhape, very deep, with a fmall 
aperture in the middle for ingrefs and egrefs : the 
external part confifts chiefly of mofs; and the in- 
ternal of hair and feathers. It lays from ten to 
eighteen eggs, of a white colour, fprinkled all 
over with pale reddifli fpots. Ray obferves, that 
it is one of thofe daily miracles which efcape our 
obfervation, that a Wren fhouid produce fo many 
young, and regularly feed each of them in total 
darknefs. 
The Wren breeds twice a year; firft about the 
end of April, and a fecond time about the middle 
of June. The young may be eafily reared. For 
this purpofe they fljould be taken out of the neft 
at about fourteen days old, and fed with the hearts 
of animals well minced, and mixed with eggs. 
When they are able to peck this meat for them- 
felves, they may be put into cages: nevertheleis, 
they fhouid be ferved for fome days longer, left 
they fhouid negleft themfelves, and thus die of 
hunger. When grown up, they may be fed with 
pafle, v/ithout any flefh. They v>'ill fpeedily take 
to their own natural wild notes but they may 
be taught any other with a moderate fhare of 
trouble and attention. 
The Wren ufually creeps about hedges and 
holes, making but fhort flights ; and, if it be 
5 E driven 
