384 NOTES ON THE YOUNG OP BLENNIUS GALERITA, L. 



Fin-rays. D. xiii. 15-16; A. 18-20. 



Pigmentation. At 13 to lo-5 mm. (15-5 to 16 mm. including the 

 middle caudal rays) the caudal peduncle is still quite or almost devoid 

 of pigment. The pectoral fin is more or less thickly covered with a 

 variable number of black chromatophores, and there are a few others 

 at the base of the caudal fin and in a roughly horizontal band on the 

 anal fin. 



There is a varying amount of diffuse brown pigment, more especially 

 {a) on the upper part and front of the head, (h) in a band running from 

 the eye to the upper jaw, (c) on the operculum and base of the pectorals, 

 and {(l) on the body. In the latter situation it is most noticeable (i.) in 

 four more or less faint V-shaped markings on each side of the dorsum, the 

 first below the origin of the dorsal fin and the third below its lowest 

 point, and (ii.) in more or less indefinite patches below and alternating 

 with these. 



A considerable number of dark brown chromatophoies (very prob- 

 ably black chromatophores seen through the difl'use brown pigment) 

 are scattered along the dorsum on each side, along the base of the anal 

 fin, and, less freely, on the trunk ; in some cases similar chromatophores 

 may be detected among the diffuse pigment {a), (b), and (c), already 

 mentioned. 



At 14-25 to 14"75 mm. (17 to 17'5 mm. with the middle caudal rays) 

 the caudal peduncle is still almost devoid of pigment. A few of the 

 black chromatophores at the base of the caudal fin remain, while those 

 on the pectorals vary much in number, being in some cases many and 

 closely set and in others few and scattered. 



The diffuse brown pigment is more marked and more generally 

 distributed, beginning to appear on the dorsal and anal fins and the 

 lower part of the pectorals. There are six Y or U-shaped dorsal mark- 

 ings, the last of which is still faint and is situated below the posterior 

 end of the dorsal fin, and alternating with and below these are A or 

 U-shaped markings on the body. The dark brown chromatophores are 

 much less noticeable and more restricted in distribution. 



At 15'5 mm. (1875 mm. with middle caudal rays) the large black 

 chromatophores on the pectoral fin are no longer visible, the body 

 is generally covered with diffuse brown pigment, which extends on 

 to the dorsal, anal, and lower part of the pectoral fins, the dark 

 chromatophores have almost disappeared, and the body markings are 

 much as in the last stage, witli the addition of traces of a seventh 

 dorsal l)and on the caudal peduncle. 



At 17'5 mm. (21 mm. with middle caudal rays) the pigmentation 

 remains practically the same, but is more intense. 



