Holt — On the Eggs and Larvae of Teleosieans. 449 



extreme posterior end. Of these four rows the most dorsal marks the boundary of 

 the flattened dorsal region, and extends forward on to the mid-bi'ain {ni.h.); 

 whilst posteriorly several cliromatophores occur between the two rows. Post- 

 anally the ventral rows unite to form a single line along the ventral edge of this 

 region. 



The pigmentation of the eyes is variable : in some larvre there are only a few 

 chromatophores on the iris, which is perfectly black in others. 



There is considerable resemblance to Mr. Anderson Smith's figure of the larva 

 of L. decmidoUi. The gut appears to extend further back in our species. Mr. 

 Anderson Smith also figures ova of L. decandolii^ from which it appears that they 

 are nearly circular, and contain a single large oil-globule. He mentions that they 

 have a pinkish tinge, which distinguishes them from those of L. himaculatiis, but 

 he gives no dimensions of the eggs or larvee of either species, and does not allude 

 specially to the shape nor to the method of attachment of the eggs. He points out 

 that both species spawn in June and July, and that the ova are hatched in twenty- 

 eight days. Those of L. himaculatus, according to the same authority, are almost 

 always arranged in regular layers (a condition which I did not notice in my 

 specimens), within the empty shells of Pecten opercularis. Day, on the authority 

 of Mr. Hyndman, records them from the shells of Venus virginea and Pectunculus 

 pilosus. 



Labrid^. 

 Lalbrus maculatus (BL).* The Ballan Wrasse. The Gunner (Mayo Coast.) 



Raffaele {op. cit., p. 35), observes that the ova of Labrus (X. merula, &c.), and 

 Crenilabrus (C. griseus, C. mediterraniis^ and C. pavo) are demersal, the former being 

 adherent, and the latter non-adherent. 



Day (op. cit., vol. i., p. 253) gives the breeding season of L. maculatus on the 

 Galway coast as about June, and qtiotes Moreau to the effect that this species and 

 L. mixtus form nests for the reception of their spawn. 



Day's observations on the breeding season are to some extent confirmed by our 

 own experience. We obtained specimens only on one occasion, tlie 8th July, at 

 Inishkeagh. 



They were all spent, males and females alike; but several of the females 

 appeared to have spawned recently, judging from the condition of the few ova 

 which, as usual, were retained in the ovaries. They are spherical, and the 

 diameter is from I'Ol to TOT mm., in some instances reaching 1'13 mm. 



In most the eg^ contents are reduced to an opaque ochreish granular mass, 

 occupying the centre of the egg, whilst in a few of the larger ones the yolk has a 

 diameter of TOlmm., and is colourless and translucent, except for an irregular 



* See note on p. 473. 



