Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/154

Rh being irregular, but massive, and most rich in effect. The fins are often orange, with bands or spots of transparent green.

The Frontispiece to this volume represents such a specimen, a little less than the natural size. The fish attains, indeed, much greater dimensions, but the most brilliantly coloured individuals are usually about six inches in length. I have represented it as lurking under a projecting ledge of rock, a situation it loves to haunt, under the shadow of the branching tufts of sea-weeds, from which it picks its insect food. The Sea-weeds introduced into the picture are as follows:—immediately in front of the fish is a plant of Chondrus crispus; below its breast is the woolly green Cladophora uncialis, a little species remarkable for its compactness, and for the abrupt termination of its tufts. Towards the left are seen two or three fronds of the curious and elegant Peacock's Tail (Padina pavonia), of which I have something to say presently; while springing from the same point, and arching over the back of the fish is a single leaf,—almost as thin and pellucid as tissue-paper,—of Punctaria latifolia.

The most common of all our Wrasses is the little Corkwing, (Crenilabrus Cornubicus). It is less pretentious than some of its fellows; yet bright-coloured specimens are very pretty, and their minuteness, hardiness, and lively manners make them very desirable tenants of an Aquarium. The common dimensions are about two inches in length, but specimens are not