191 



PAM. SOIAENIDAE. 



SCIAENA AQUILA. RISSO. (KABELJAAUW). 



The mean diameter of loo ova (in formalin*) was "88 mm. 

 The maximum was -91 (one specimen), the minimum -82. 

 There is usually one rather large oil globule '2 mm. in 

 diameter, but 11 out of 100 had two oil globules of a smaller 

 size. 



This egg cannot be distinguished from that of the White 

 Stumpnose by its size, the mean diameter of each being the 

 same, but the diameter of the oil globule is markedly different, 

 being -2 mm. as against '17 mm. in the case of the White 

 Stumpnose. 



FAM. PLEURONECTIDAE. 



AOHIRUS OAPENSIS. KAUP. (SOLE). 



Specimens of this small sole are procurable in fair abund- 

 ance in False Bay, and females, which may usually be readily 

 distinguished from males by the well developed ovaries, were 

 not uncommon in the months of November and December. 

 The males were always procured in fewer numbers than the 

 females. Artificial fertilization was repeatedly attempted, but 

 was not successful. No visible spermatic fluid could be 

 secured, and the testes were cut up and shaken in the jar 

 containing unfertilized ripe eggs. In some instances these 

 testes were first examined under the microscope and active 

 spermatozoa were found. At first development seemed normal, 

 and the protoplasm became heaped up in a germinal disc in 

 the usual manner, but no subsequent division took place. On 

 the following day the eggs, which had been floating at the 

 surface, were found to have sunk to the bottom of the jar and 

 to be in a decaying condition. It is possible that the unknown 

 larva (Sp. V) hatched out from an egg ('98 mm.) procured in 

 tow-nettings about the same time, was the young of this fish. 



*A weak solution of formalin does not alter to any great extent the diameter 

 Some eggs of the White Stumpnose were measured before and after being in 

 formalin (four weeks) and were found to be practically the same (• n diagnostic 

 purposes, 



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