THE BALLAN WRASSE. 
121 
The following notes which I contributed to the Zool. Society in 1837 
were published in the Proceedings of that year : — - 
“ Labrus lineatus, Don., Lab. maculatus, Bloch, Lab. psittacus, Risso ? — On 
September 26, 1835, I obtained at Bangor, Down, two specimens of a wrasse, 
which agreed pretty well with the L. lineatus of Donovan, a species but little 
understood. They seemed also identical with the L. psittacus of Risso, used 
as a synonym of the L. lineatus in the works of Mr. Yarrell and Mr. Jenyns; 
by the latter author it is marked with doubt. At the same time I could not con- 
sider these specimens else than the young of L. maculatus , an opinion which 
subsequent examination has tended to confirm, as in the same individual I have 
seen the lineated marking of L. lineatus and the spots of L. maculatus. The 
specimens alluded to as corresponding with Donovan’s L. lineatus are small, as 
he describes the species to be : those conspicuously spotted over were large, 
and the individuals presenting partially both appearances were of an interme- 
diate size; hence it would appear that the L. lineatus generally* is the young 
fish, and the L. maculatus the adult. It must be added that specimens of equal 
size, taken at the same time and place, vary much in colour and in the relative 
depth of the body. The head, too, is more elongated in the young than in the 
mature fish.” 
In concluding his description of the Labri Pennant observes, 
“ Besides these species we recollect seeing taken at the Giant’s Causeway, in 
Ireland, a most beautiful kind, of a vivid green spotted with scarlet ; and others 
at Bundoran, in the County of Sligo, of a pale green.” He adds, — “ We were 
at that time inattentive to this branch of natural history, and can only say they 
were of a species we have never since seen.” 
I have no hesitation in saying that the beautiful kind of a vivid green, 
spotted with scarlet, was the ordinary L. maculatus , and as little in stating 
my belief that the pale green kind was also the same species. On ex- 
amining the produce of one rod after a day’s fishing, I have seen spe- 
cimens varying from the palest green to the very darkest tint of this 
colour. 
As the three names under which this fish appears — viz. L. lineatus, L. 
psittacus (when it is uniformly green), and L. maculatus — apply to the in- 
dividual rather than to the species, and thus tend to confusion, it seems 
to me desirable that there should be an -appellation under which all the 
varieties could be brought, and as such I would suggest Labrus varia- 
bilis. 
Templeton, M‘Skimmin, and Marshall have each noted the occurrence 
of Labrus Tinea in the North of Ireland, but I have little doubt that they 
referred to red-coloured specimens of the Ballan wrasse, which is some- 
times of a rich pure green colour. 
The stomachs of two of these fishes, which, in company with Dr. J. L. 
Drummond, I examined in September, 1836, contained only the remains 
of shrimp-like Crustacea, with the exception of an imperfect specimen of 
Turbo quadrifasciatus. The gastric juice had almost entirely consumed 
one of the stomachs. I remarked that wherever these specimens had been 
rubbed by the pectoral fins or otherwise, the colour was much more faint 
than elsewhere. 
Mr. B. Meenan informs me that the Ballan wrasse is very abundant 
at Donaghadee, where it attains the weight of 8 lbs. It is little prized in 
Belfast market, the largest being sold for a few pence. 
During an easterly gale in February, 1838, numbers of these fishes, 
* I have seen some specimens of the largest size entirely green, and display- 
ing the lineation in a darker shade of this colour. 
