The name of two fishes found off the English coast: a. Serranus cabrilla, a fish of the sea-perch family; also called gaper.
1769. Pennant, Zool., III. 210. The comber is a small scaly fish.
1861. Couch, Brit. Fishes, I. 195. The Comber usually keeps in rocky ground at a small distance from land.
b. Short for Comber Wrasse (Labrus maculatus var. comber, L. comber of Ray), a variety of Wrasse found on the Cornish coast.
1769. Pennant, Zool., I. 342. Comber Wrasse.
1859. Yarrell, Brit. Fishes, I. 489. Pennant says he received his fish from Cornwall, and supposed it to be the Comber of Mr. Jago.
1868. Couch, Brit. Fishes, III. 32. The Comber Wrass is described as known to the fishermen of Mount’s Bay.
