174 Dr. J. D. F. Giichrist on the 
about 100 fathoms, and mature females with ripe eggs can 
occasionally be procured. ‘These eggs are of a fair size, 
being 1:15 mm. to 1:06 mm. in diameter, with an oil-globule 
0°29 to 0:27 mm. in diameter. They are characterized by a 
vitelline membrane, on which there occurs a network of 
polygonal markings. When quite mature they float very 
readily to the surface of the water in which they are placed. 
The eggs of Macrurus parallelus, which occurs in less 
abundance and usually at somewhat greater depth, were also 
procured, and resemble those of the first-named species, being, 
however, somewhat larger (1°32 to 1:30 mm.), the oil-globule 
being 0°31 to 0°26 mm. ‘These eggs differ from those 
described by Costa for M. celorhynchus chiefly in that there 
are no projections on the vitelline membrane as in that 
species. 
I may mention in this connexion that an egg has been 
found in South-African seas resembling the ‘ zackige Hi” of 
Hensen, provided with projections of the vitelline membrane, 
in a tow-net attached to a beam-trawl, working at a depth of 
about 380 fathoms, as well as in a surface-net. No evidence 
was, however, procured that these were the eggs of a deep- 
sea fish. 
Another deep-sea fish—Catetyx messiert,—procured off 
Cape Point from 560-700 fathoms, proved to be viviparous. 
A fourth case of reproduction of deep-sea fish was indicated 
by the finding of a small cluster of eggs, each about 2 mm. 
in diameter, ina trawl-net working at a depth of 175 fathoms. 
‘There is no evidence, however, that they were actually from 
the bottom (vide ‘ Marine Investigations in South. Africa,’ 
vols. li. and 111.), 
A recent renewal of the marine survey of the South-African 
seas has afforded an opportunity of procuring additional 
information on this subject, and this, taken in conjunction 
with the above instances, seems to throw some light en the 
mode of reproduction of deep-sea fish generally. 
(1) The first case is that of an undoubtedly demersal fish- 
egg trom deep water, somewhat resembling the last-mentioned 
egg. The eggs were found in a rounded cluster, firmly 
adherent to the branch of an alcyonarian brought up by the 
trawl from a depth of 226 fathoms (PI. I.). From the size 
and position of these clusters, they probably belong to a fish 
of no great size, ‘lle embryo was well advanced, its length 
being about three-fourths the circumference of the egg. The 
head was rather broad and was provided with a pair of large 
eyes, somewhat widely set apart; there was no pigment on 
