



16. 
LABRUS FORMOSUS. 

Order, THORACIC. 
| 
. hi er ; 
Native Name, SRE RatTtToo-GIRawAH. 
L. rormosus, Body grey, irregularly marked with circular black spots. 
Head bright yellow, intersected by two beautiful diagonal lines of blue, 
verging towards sea green, one of which ranges with the eye. The first 
dorsal spine twice the length of the fin, and of a bright red color, which passes 
through the extremity of the fin, above and through the centre of which 
passes a greenish-blue line ; the caudal fin is curiously adapted, having its radii 
circular at the base, and alternately ornamented with circular black dots ; 
rather more than half of the fin is bright red, the remainder semi transparent 
white, inclining to a very pale yellow. Lateral line very visible, convexing 
towards the head, and also under the fifteenth ray, from the termination of 
which it proceeds in a direct line to the centre of the caudal fin. 
Branchiostegous rays 5. Dorsal 21, nine spinous. Pectoral\2. Ventral 6. 
Anal 15, three spinous. Caudal 1. 



Tur Rattoo-Girawah of the Cingalese is one of the most beautiful 


of its species. It is scarce, therefore not sought for the purposes of 

food, although occasionally tor the gratification of the naturalist. 
Its flesh is firm, white, and nutritious, but such qualities are 
scarcely sufficient to produce a reconciliation to the destruction of 


such an interesting object of Nature. The Rattoo-Girawah 1s 
generally taken in rocky situations, and has been known to attain 
the length of twenty-four inches. It belongs to the genus Julis 
of Cuvier, and is allied to Julis Ganymede of Freycinet’s Voyage, 
. ~ eon 
tab. 54. 
Figure—The natural size of the Specimen. 
Hi 

