54. Part I1T.— Twenty-fourth Annual Report 
Four specimens of the fresh-water perch were examined—one about 
14 inches long, one 8 inches, one 7 inches, and one 63 inches. The 
earstones of the largest specimen measured 105mm. in length and about 
55mm at the widest part, while those of the other three specimens 
measured respectively 7mm. by 35mm. and 6mm. by 3mm. The larger 
earstones are thus proportionally the shorter ones, the first being equal to 
about one thirty-fourth part of the entire length of the fish, the next 
about the one-thirtieth, and the last rather longer, These earstones are 
very irregular in outline, and the greatest width is towards the posterior 
end. The lower margin is tolerably even and slightly arcuate, but the 
upper is irregular, with a prominent notch near the proximal end ; this 
end is narrow and bluntly rounded. Both the posterior end and the 
upper margin are distinctly but irregularly crenulate; they are also 
moderately compressed and thin. The earstones of the smaller fishes 
have a general resemblance to those of the large one, but they are 
distinctly less crenulated, and the surface is not sorugose. The specimens 
seem t) vary to some extent in form and sculpture. 
Fam. Munuip. 
Genus Mullus. 
Mullus barbatus, Linn. Surmullet or Red Mullet. Pl. iii. B., fig. 49; 
PlV.p Hei. 
The fish from which the earstones were taken measured scarcely 8? . 
inches in length. The earstones are broadly ovate in outline, the posterior 
extremity is truncated, while the proximal end is narrow and bluntly 
rounded ; the lateral margins are obscurely crenulate, and the surface is 
somewhat rugose. The earstones of the red mullet are apparently pro- 
portionally smaller than those of the fresh-water perch. Those just 
described measured only about 45mm. long by about 3mm. in greatest 
width, and are thus about equal to little more than one-fiftieth part of the 
length of the fish. 
Fam. SPARIDA. 
Genus Sparus. 
Sparus (Pagellus) centrodontus, De la Roche. Sea Bream. PI. ii. B., 
figs. 6 and 7. 
The earstones of two examples of this species are shown on Plate 11. B. 
The larger of the two fishes measured 17 inches in lengti, and the 
smaller 15 inches. The earstones of the first (fig. 6) measured 15°5 mm. 
along their greatest length, and 8mm. in depth, and those of the smaller 
one (fig. 7) 14mm. by 75mm. In their outline and markings these 
earstones are somewhat similar to those of the large fresh-water perch, 
but the lower margin is rather more arcuate, and they are more incurved 
when seen from above. They are also considerably larger in proportion 
to the length of the fish, being about one twenty-seventh or twenty- 
eighth part of the extreme length. 
Fam. ScoRPANIDA, 
Genus Sebastes. 
Sebastes norvegicus (Ascan.). Norway Haddock. PI. iii., B., figs. 50-52. 
The earstones of three small examples of Sebastes are represented on 
Plate iii. B. The fishes measured 5 inches, 54 inches, and 6 inches in 
