44 
corkaving. 
5n to the snout; jaws almost equal; gape narrow; teeth in 
regular order, but often in irregular stages of development; 
first plate of the gill-covers serrated. Large scales on the 
cheeks and body. Lateral line nearer the hack, bending down 
suddenly opposite the termination of the dorsal fin. This fin 
is furnished with sixteen firm and nine soft rays; pectoral 
round, fourteen rays; ventrals close together, with one firm 
and five soft rays; anal fin three firm and nine soft rays, the 
two last from one root; tail fourteen rays. 
Like others of this family, the Corkwing varies in its colour. 
Upper pait of the head and back usually brownish, with 
stripes of red and green on the gill-covers; sides a faint green, 
with numerous lightish red stripes, yellow or greenish below. 
Ihe fins are similarly varied, but the ^ colours are commonly 
fainter than in others of the Wrasses. Near the tail, close to 
or on the termination of the lateral line, is a conspicuous 
black spot, which is seen in the earliest stage of growth of 
this fish, and its absence forms the only distinguishing mark 
of the supposed species, called the Gibbous Wrass by Pennant. 
This last-mentioned fish received its name on account of a 
considerable elevation of its back, and consequent greater 
depth than exists in others of this family, with a greater 
sweep downwards to the mouth; but the almost unanimous 
opinion of observers has concluded that it constitutes only 
an older and perhaps better fed stage of the Common Corkwing, 
fiom which the lateral spot near the tail has disappeared. It 
has been met with of the length of nine inches, with a deeper 
profile than is usual with the Corkwing; but I have never 
seen the back so high as is represented in Pennant’s figure. 
Those also that have fallen under my notice have come "from 
a gi eater depth of water than is usual with the Corkwino^ 
O* 
