REPRODUCTION AND GROWTH OF THE PILCHARD. 157 



two facts, first that tlie herring at Plymouth spawns in January, and 

 second that the herring larva is 9 mm. long, larger than the earliest 

 stage above described, even before the yolk-sac is absorbed. But 

 it is more difficult to prove that they cannot be sprat larvae. Sprat 

 eggs occur most plentifully in the tow-net gatherings in January, 

 February, and March, and I have taken only solitary specimens as 

 late as the beginning of May. On the other hand pilchard ova were 

 plentiful in tow-net gatherings taken outside the Eddystone in June, 

 and the earlier stages above described are certainly not more than a 

 fortnight or three weeks old, while the oldest stage is probably four 

 or five weeks. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE X, 



Illustrating Mr. Cunningham's paper on '' The Reproduction and 

 Growth of the Pilchard." 



d.f. Dorsal fin. no. Notochord. pc.f. Pectoral fin. pv.f. Pelvic fin. 

 Fig. 1. — Larva, probably of pilchard, 8"5 mm. long. 

 Fig. 2. — Older larva, 11'5 mm. long. 

 Fig. 3. — Later stage, 2*4 cm. long. 



