A FISH FROM A PELAGIC EGG. 



33 



brain backward is distinguished by a narrow edge of dull 

 orange or pale olive, which relieves the colours formerly men- 

 tioned, and the general effect is varied by two black specks 

 in the dorsals. When it is double the length (i. e. 6 or 7 inches) 

 a complete change has taken place in its coloration (Fig. 8). 

 Instead of being striped the fish is now boldly and irregularly 

 blotched both dorsally and laterally, the region of the white 

 stripe being indicated by the pale and somewhat scalloped 

 area dividing the dorsal from the lateral blotches. Fourteen 

 or fifteen brownish blotches occur between the breast-fins and 

 the base of the tail, and they are separated by the whitish 

 areas, which thus assume a reticulated appearance, and both 

 kinds of pigment invade the dorsal fins. Other touches of 



FIG. 8. Young Ling in the barred stage. About half natural size. 



dark pigment on the fins and tail increase the complexity of 

 the coloration at this stage. 



Again, some species, like the gurnard, have pigment over 

 the yolk-sac before they are hatched, others have not. The 

 dragonet in its post-larval (and pelagic) stage has its ventral 

 surface deeply tinted with black pigment, while in the adult, a 

 ground-loving fish, it is white, and the same occurs in the 

 armed bullhead. The St Andrews cross in the eye of the 

 post-larval stage in a kind of sea-scorpion is another 

 remarkable feature (Fig. 9). No 

 more interesting or more novel 

 field indeed than this exists in the 

 whole range of zoology; but the 

 investigations need ships and boats, 

 with expensive appliances, as well 



as persevering work for several F IG . 9 . Head of young Cottoid 

 seasons. We have only been able 

 to open the field at St Andrews 



with St Andrews cross in 



eyes. 



M. F. 



