464 Holt — On the Eggs and Larvce of Teleosteans. 



couspicuous rectal valve {r.v.). The clavicle {cl.) is conspicuous in front of the very- 

 large fan-shaped pectorals (p./-), the rotation of which is now complete. The eyes 

 are black at this stage. The caudal fin has become somewhat lanceolate, and the 

 dorsal sends down a narrow strip in front of the mid-brain (hl b.). 



The post-larval condition (fig, 52) is reached in eight or nine days. There is 

 no great advance from the last stage, except that the liver (l.) is larger, and the 

 gut more convoluted ; whilst the dorsal fin is further expanded in the anterior 

 region. 



No black pigment has appeared except in the eyes, but the yellow pigment has 

 become somewhat greenish. The total length is from 2"98 to 3'10 mm., there is a 

 slight increase in the pre-anal length, which is now "96 mm. This is an extremely 

 hardy species ; with very little attention they were easily reared in small vessels 

 to the post-larval condition. It is interesting that Professor M'Intosh obtained 

 two eggs, apparently identical with these, in St. Andrews Bay in the early part of 

 July of this year, and another occurred on the 30th of that month. 



From the characters of the egg and larva I am inclined to think that the parent 

 species is Soka lutea. This is, of course, mere conjecture, but it is perhaps permis- 

 sible in view of the many sole-like charactei'S that are met with. 



The combination of a cortical layer of yolk segments with numerous small 

 oil-globules is, as far as I know, confined to the eggs of various species of Solca 

 and to Raffaele's undetermined species, No. 2, which is probably identical with 

 this form. I know that Solea lutea breeds about the time these eggs were obtained, 

 from having found a nearly ripe female of this species in Galway Bay on the 2nd 

 June. Unfortunately, having much other work on hand, I did not examine its 

 ova minutely, and can only say that they were very small. 



Species III. — Motella-like. 

 PI. XLVir., fig. 11. 



Several specimens of this small pelagic egg were taken in the surface-net in 

 Blacksod Bay on the 14th and 15th June. 



The diameter is -Be mm.; the zona shows no peculiar features; the yolk (y.) 

 is clear and homogeneous, and there is a single oil-globule {o.g.) in the usual 

 position, exhibiting a pale greenish-yellow colouration, •14 mm. in diameter. 



Of two ova examined one contains an early pigmentless embryo, from the 

 sides of which faint transverse striee extend outwards over the yolk-sac for a little 

 distance. In the anterior region the yolk is a little separated from the yolk-sac, 

 and a faint stellate striation occurs on the U23per surface near the oil-globule. 



In the other specimen (fig. 11) the embryo is more advanced, having a short 



