95 



Leptocephalus, sp. (PI. it.) 



As regards the curious pellucid LeptocephaU, of which I 

 have obtained a few specimens in the Gulf of Manaar, and 

 a large number from the meshes of the fishermen's nets at 

 Gropalpur, where they are known as sea-leeches, Dr. Giin- 

 ther says : • 



" We must come to the conclusion that these leptocepha- 

 tids are the offsprings of various kinds of marine fishes, repre- 

 senting, not a normal stage of development (larvse), but an 

 arrest of development at a very early period of their life ; they 

 continue to grow to a certain size without corresponding 

 development of their internal organs, and perish without having 

 obtained the characters of the perfect animal." 



* Introduction to Study of Fishes, 1880, pp. 179-182. 



