473 Holt — On the Eggs and Larvce of Teleosteans. 



oil-globule, and along the sides and on the head of the embryo, but less abundantly 

 on the dorsum. A few small black chromatophores occur along the sides and on 

 the head, and at intervals over the yolk-sac. 



About twelve hours after hatching (fig. 36) the total length is 2'68mm. The 

 snout projects boldly in advance of the yolk. The olfactory apparatus (c?. ) is 

 conspicuous ; the eyes are large, but exhibit no black pigment as yet. The 

 otocysts {ot.) small, and inferiorly conical, lie someway behind the eye. Tlie 

 pectorals (p./-) have appeared, but are very small. The gut is dilated below the 

 IDectorals, and is tubular, and somewhat broad posteriorly ; it projects beyond the 

 yolk, and terminates blindly below the notochord at a distance of "955 mm. from 

 the snout. The yolk(^.) is ovoidal, with postero-ventral oil-globule; the noto- 

 chord (no.) is somewhat stout, and multi-columnar, with large cells. 



The marginal fins are very broad, reaching their maximum a little anterior to 

 median. The dorsal rises from the top of the mid-brain, and exhibits a remarkable 

 angulation above the otocyst.s. 



The black pigment has altogether disappeared, whilst the yellow has gained in 

 brilliancy. It is now a vivid orange by reflected, and brownish yellow by trans- 

 mitted, light. It covers the whole of the head and trunk in a network of dendritic 

 chromatophores, excejit the extreme posterior region, which is devoid of pigment, 

 and a broad bar about the middle of the post-anal region, which is almost equally 

 so. The oil globule (o. ^.) and the adjacent parts of the ventral fin and yolk-sac, 

 as well as the anterior region of the yolk-sac, the pectoral fins, and that part of the 

 dorsal fin which lies below the angulation previously noticed, are also brilliantly 

 pigmented. 



I cannot say much as to the affinities of this form. The dimensions of the 

 ovum agree well enough with Centropristis hepaticus [cf. Raffaele, op. cit. p. 19), 

 but the larvae and the two forms present obvious difi'erences. 



Species IX. 

 (PI. XLix., fig. 33.) 



On the 13th June off Cleggan Head, near Innishboffin, and off the Bills, and 

 on the 5th July in Keel Bay, Achill Island, a number of large pelagic ova were 

 taken in the surface-net. I have referred these to a single species, as, though the 

 variation in size between the largest and smallest is considerable, between 

 intermediate specimens it is very slight, and I could see no other character to 

 distinguish them from each other. 



The Q^^ is spherical, with a diameter of l-49-l"64 mm., and there is a single 

 colourless oil-globule of •24--30 mm. It is thus the largest egg of this series, being 

 considerably larger than that of the grey gurnard. 



