198 
DUSKY PERCH. 
Serranus gi"ns, 
<( (t 
tt it 
Holocenirus Me.rou, 
Perea rohusta, 
Perea gigas, 
CtTVIEK. 
Yahbell; Br. FisBes, vol. i, p. 14. 
Gu:NinEK; Cat. of Br. Museum, vol. i, 
p. 132. 
Lacepebe. E:sso. 
Loudon’s Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. v, p. 21. 
Jenyns; Manual, p. 333. 
This, ivhich, as its scientific name implies, is among the 
largest of the species of this family, and is not uncommon in 
the Mediterranean, appears to have been overlooked by natu- 
ralists until very recent times, and even yet its peculiar habits 
have been but little examined. E.isso tells us only that it 
comes to the neighbourhood of Nice in summer and autumn. 
It appears that the south part of the coast of Cornwall is the 
north boundary of its wanderings, as it is of several other 
fishes of the west portion of the Mediterranean; but even 
there it is found but rarely, and no more than three or 
four examples have fallen within the notice of naturalists. 
I'he first of these was taken near Polperro with a line, and 
from it our figure and description were obtained. I learn 
from W. P. Cocks, Esq., that two others have been brought 
into Falmouth, and one of these was presented by him to the 
collection of the British Museum. One, if not more, has 
been observed at Penzance, but of its habits on our coasts 
we have nothing to report. 
At first view this fish has more the appearance of belonging 
to the genus Labrus (the Wrass) than to the family of 
Perches; and, in conformity with this, it is said that in 
Spain, where it is well known, its name is the same as that 
of the Wrass; but closer observation corrects the mistake, 
and shews it to be possessed of the proper characters of the 
