12 



BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



band is composed of a dorsal and a ventral pigmented area. These two areas are now 

 so widely separated that in lateral view the band no longer appears continuous. Sev- 

 eral blackish pigment spots occur also along the ventral margin of the body between 

 the vent and the posterior vertical band. 



Larval fishes 5 mm. in length (fig. 21) retain the same general form as the one 

 3.5 mm. in length above described. The posterior end of the notochord is curved 

 upward more strongly and the heterocercal character of the tail is more apparent. The 

 general color of the body has changed to silvery gray. The anterior vertical band and 



Fig. 21. — Bairdiella chrysura. I^arval fish 5 mm. in length. 



the dorsal and ventral pigmented areas in the region in which in the earlier larvse the 

 posterior vertical band is located are distinctly blackish. A small dark area occurs 

 dorsally opposite the vent. Several small darkly pigmented areas occur also along the 

 ventral margin of the body posterior to the vent. 



As the little fishes grow larger the trunk posterior to the vent becomes relatively 

 deeper until there is no longer an abrupt break in the ventral contour of the body. The 

 caudal end of the body gradually becomes symmetrical dorso-ventrally and the tail 

 assumes its true homocercal character. The general color of the body remains silvery 



^^;^-""" 



Fig. 22. — Bairdiella chrysura. Larval fish 7.5 mm. in length. 



gray, distinctly darker dorsally than ventrally. The anterior vertical band and the 

 other darkly pigmented areas are retained until the little fishes have grown to a length 

 of 8 to 9 mm. After this they gradually disappear. In fishes ii to 12 mm. in length 

 (fig. 23) there remain only traces of these pigmented areas. 



After the little fishes have attained a length of 7 to 8 mm. (fig. 22) they rap- 

 idly assume the general form and appearance of the adult individuals of the species. 

 In fishes 10 to 12 mm. in length (fig. 23) the fins are well differentiated and the 

 full numbers of fin rays are already present. Fishes of this size have the general 



