NOTES ON TELEOSTEAN OVA AND LARVAE. 47 



I also noted that my larva was distinctly more slender in dorsal view 

 than Matthews' L. macidatus {op. cii., PL XI). 



The pigmentation is in general the same on the second day as on 

 the first, but the post-anal pigment in the anal fin has slightly increased. 

 With the total absorption of the yolk, which has taken place on the 

 fourth day, a still further increase of this pigment is seen, the group of 

 chromatophores behind the anus now numbering fourteen or fifteen; 

 and there is a further extension of pigment from the ventral edge of 

 the trunk to the proximal margin of the anal and pre-anal fin mem- 

 branes. The embryonic fin-rays, in both the dorsal and ventral parts of 

 the caudal region of the larval fin membrane, are now very evident. A 

 specimen at this stage, after killing in dilute formalin, measured 

 3'5 mm. 



Blennius pholis, L. The Shanny. 



It is somewhat surprising that the earliest stages of this common 

 blenny should have remained unknown for so long. Mcintosh (14g) 

 has published some observations upon eggs deposited in captivity. 

 These were circular in outline, oblate spheroidal in lateral view, and 

 each had a faintly pinkish attachment disc. The diameter was 1*181 

 to 1'219 mm., the vertical diameter being 0'763 and the height of the 

 attachment rim 0"305 mm. He describes the yolk colour as dull 

 pinkish or faint salmon and in certain lights having a dull brownish 

 appearance. 



On June 4th some eggs of Blennius pliolis accompanied by the parent 

 fish were taken on a stone on the Breakwater rocks. In shape they 

 were ovoid with flattened underside (Fig. 3). The length of the 

 capsule was IG mm., the vertical height just above 1 mm. (with the 

 attachment disc ca. 1*4 mm.). When observed they were at the last 

 stage of embryonic development, the black eyes of the embryo render- 

 ing them very conspicuous. The yolk was of a light brown colour. 

 The newly hatched larva (Fig. 6) is of large size — about 4*4 mm. total 

 length and I'S mm. from snout to anus. Its very broad and somewhat 

 square head gives it a tadpole-like appearance. There is a striking 

 absence of post-anal pigment. A most conspicuous feature is the pair 

 of large fan-like and heavily pigmented pectoral fins. These are 

 marked with large, black and yellowish brown chromatophores, the 

 former disposed in radial lines, the latter being most concentrated in 

 the basal region and absent from the distal margin. Other black 

 pigment occurs in the eyes, under tlie mandible where three stellate 

 chromatophores are disposed symmetrically in triangular form, on the 

 neck region as a single pigment spot, and in the peritoneum where 

 there is a short double row of chromatophores. The yolk-sac, pro- 



