120 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OI" FISHERIES. 



EGGS. 



The eggs of this species are not quite spherical when first spawned, and they are some- 

 what smaller than those of M. menidia, their greatest diameter being approximately 

 0.75 millimeter. The action of the eggs after spawning, with respect to adhering to 

 objects in the water, is identical in the two species; but under magnification it is seen 

 that in the present species the gelatinous threads are comparatively few in number, and 

 one of them is always much enlarged (fig. 95), while in M. menidia, as already shown, 

 they are very numerous and of uniform size. The eggs of the two species appear to be 

 identical in all other respects 



EMBRYOLOGY. 



Nothing essentially different from M. menidia in the embryology of this species 

 was noted (figs. 95, 96, and 97). The eggs hatched in a water temperature varying from 

 78 to 82 F. on the eighth, ninth, and tenth day after fertilization. 



LARWE. 



The newly hatched larvae are approximately 3.5 millimeters in length, or 1.5 milli- 

 meters shorter than the newly hatched larva- <>!' M. menidia, and it is only in size that they 

 can be readily distinguished from the latter (fig. 98). Therefore, what was previously 

 stated with respect to the larva:' of M. menidia also applies to the present species. The 

 development of the young fry, too, appears to be identical, except that in the present 

 smaller species the development with respect to size is proportionately slower, although 

 from field observations it is evident that maturity is reached just as early. 



