Holt — On the Eggs and Larvce of Teleosteans. 473 



The zona is thin, the yolk clear and homogeneous, and in the early stages the 

 perivitelline space is small, and the whole egg is extremely translucent. 



The species appears somewhat delicate, as none of the ova hatched, although 

 several reached a late stage of development. They showed a tendency, at a 

 comparatively late stage, to sink to the bottom of the vessel, and, after continuing 

 to develop there for some time, became opaque and died. It would appear that 

 the larva escapes in a more advanced condition than is usual in pelagic forms. 

 The yolk is greatly reduced, leaving a very large perivitelline space (fig. 33, p. s.) 

 before hatching, and the embryo appears older than the escaped larvae of many 

 forms. 



It is characterized, at the later stage examined (fig. 33), by the posterior 

 position of the oil-globule (o.^.), and the great breadth and peculiar pigmentation 

 of the marginal fins. The rectum (r. ) lies close against the yolk, behind the oil- 

 globule, and the imperforate anus {a.) is marginal. The eyes are very large, the mid- 

 brain («?. h.) dorsally prominent, and the otocysts [ot.) are elongated and inferiorly 

 concave. The dorsal marginal fin extends forward in front of the fore-brain, 

 rising abruptly ; just behind the anus the trunk has a height of "27 mm., the 

 ventral fin being •40 mm., and the dorsal about equal in height to the body. 



Grreenish pigment (ochreish-yellow by transmitted light) occurs in small 

 chromatophores over the yolk-sac, and sparingly on the greater part of the head 

 and trunk, and along the dorsal and ventral fins about the middle of their width. 

 There are a few large black stellate chromatophores, with the greenish pigment, 

 about the oil-globule, and smaller rounded black chromatophores occur over the 

 yolk-sac, and dorsally and ventrally about the anal region of the trunk. A series 

 of peculiar pectinate black chromatophores run along the margin of the embryonic 

 fin backwards from the anal region. I could not see any signs of the pec- 

 toral fins. 



I have no suggestion to ofPer as to the parent form. It is noteworthy that 

 these eggs, too conspicuous to escape detection, were only obtained in comparatively 

 open waters. 



NOTE ADDED IN PEESS. 



Lalrics maculatus (p. 449). — I tad overlooked the late Mr. J. Duncan Mattlie-ws's description of the 

 nest, ova, and larvse of this species. The ova are about 1 mm. in diameter, and the newly-hatched larvae 

 are 3-75 mm. long; they are decorated with black and yeUow pigment. — (" Eeport Fishery Board, Scotland, 

 1887," pp. 245-247, pi. xi.) 



