249 



In these specimens (of 9,5 m.M. and 13 m.M. length) most of 

 the characters of the adult auimal have already appeared. 



The coloration is still nearly the same as in the later larval 

 stages, only the pigment is now not only black, but black and 

 yellow. The broad pelvic fins are intensely black with yellow 

 pigmentcells between the black ones. At the base of the caudal 

 fin the pigment cell described in the larva is still visible, But 

 for this cell the tail and trunk are colourless. On the now very 

 strongly developed first dorsal fin some brown pigment is to be 

 seen; on the trunk at the base of this fin, somewhat more below, 

 on the abdomen, and on the occiput raasses of brown pigment 

 (black and yellow mixed) are visible. Otherwise the young fish is 

 colourless. The breast fins are entirely colourless. 



In this the specimens found in the North Sea (and we captured 

 them in great quantities, from 8 m.M. in length upwards to 

 15 m.M. in length, who all preseuted the same coloration) differ 

 rather much from the figure drawn by Holt (1. c. fig. 74). There 

 the greater part of the trunk until half-way down the second 

 dorsal and anal fins is coloured black, and the head is covered 

 with black patches until near the nose. My specimens were true 

 Trachinus vipera; the pectoral fins had 14 finrays, the anal fins 

 23, the first dorsal 4, the second dorsal 24. In other specimens 

 of the same length, aspect and coloration, the pectoral fins had 

 14 finrays, the anal fin 25 or 24, the first dorsal 5, the second 

 dorsal 24. As, however, the young larva described by Holt too had 

 the true number of finrays of Trachinus vipera, it seems to belong 

 to the same species ; perhaps the environment, temperature and 

 salinity of the water causes the pigment to appear somewhat 

 earlier or later, and that may account for the difierence. 



The height of the body and the peculiar shape of the young fish, 

 as shown in fig. 2, is allready the same as in the adult animal. 

 The venomous spine on the opercle and the spines on the preo- 

 percular ridge are allready strongly developed, and as they stand 

 away from the body almost at right angles (as shown in fig. 3) 

 they raake a forraidable armature for the young fish. 



