LAKVAL AND POST-LARVAL TELEOSTEANS. 377 



larval forms have been extremely helpful. Specific characters which 

 have been found most useful have reference to the pectoral fins. 

 These are extremely long in T. gurnardus, and have the pigment 

 scattered as black dots between the rays mostly on the posterior half of 

 the fin. In T. hirundo the pectorals are much shorter and broader, more 

 deeply pigmented over the whole surface, and appear almost as a uni- 

 form brownish black. 



An entirely different form appears in August and September. This, 

 by a process of elimination, is most probably T. lineata, which is known 

 to spawn about July. The early post-larva has very little pigment 

 except for a distinct narrow dark band along the dorsal and posterior 

 margin of the abdominal region, somewhat similar to what occurs in 

 Coitus bubalis. 



With the material at my disposal, I hope to give a fuller account of 

 the different species in a later contribution. 



TEACHINID.E. 



Trachinus vi-jjera Cuv. T. draco L. 



T. vi'pera Cuv. (Lesser Weever.) 



Pelagic post-larvse of the lesser weever were found to be generally 



distributed and comparatively numerous. They were taken at the 



mouth of the Lynher River, in the Sound, Cawsand Bay, and over 



depths ranging from ten to about forty fathoms. The frequency was 



highest beyond the twenty-fathom line. They occurred from April to 



September, so that the spawning of this species, as with the dragonet, is 



indefinitely prolonged. The maximum for the post-larvse lies in July and 



August. 



T. draco L. (Greater Weever.) 



Records of the greater weever are limited to four specimens from 

 6 to 7 mm. in length, secured in August and September. The appear- 

 ance of these post-larvae corresponds to Ehrenbaum's Fig. f, " Nor- 

 disches Plankton," Vol. I. Adults of this species are by no means 

 common in the neighbourhood. Those which have been observed have 

 been captured in deeper water. 



