436 Notes from the St. Andrews Marine Laboratory. 



rays. The latter band is opaque-white on the tail, and it 

 gives the fish a characteristic appearance. The dorsal fins 

 are well marked, the first presenting a distinct black speck 

 posteriorly, and another black pigment patch occurs at the 

 end of the second. The dorsal line from the brain backward 

 is distinguished by a narrow wedge of dull orange or a 

 mixture of olive and yellow, and this brings out in relief the 

 colours formerly mentioned. The young ling is thus a striped 

 form, and contrasts boldly with the spotted or tesselated con- 

 dition observed in the young cod. 



Young Eel. 



While digging for sand-eels near low water a young eel 

 which presents certain features of interest was found deeply 

 imbedded in the moist sand. The fish measures 3£ inches in 

 length, and is extremely translucent. Anteriorly, however, a 

 symmetrical pale greenish coloration commences at each eye 

 and passes backward and slightly outward, keeping external 

 to the translucent cranium. Behind the latter a similar 

 greenish band, broad at first, but subsequently narrowing, 

 extends along the anterior vertebral region. The eyes are 

 blackish. At the base of the brain is a little blackish pig- 

 ment, and a line of the same colour indicates the spinal cord. 

 The dorsal fin begins a considerable distance behind the 

 pectorals, and thus differs from that of the adult conger, in 

 which it commences at the last quarter or the end of the pec- 

 torals. The anal begins about the length of the head behind the 

 dorsal, and apparently a little in front of the middle of the 

 total length. The projection of the mandible beyond the 

 premaxillaries is also pronounced. In both of the latter 

 characters, therefore, it leans to the condition in the common 

 eel. The tail is broadly lanceolate from the extension of the 

 marginal fin on both edges, but especially superiorly; a 

 small blackish patch occurs in its middle. The opercular 

 region presents a striated or faintly radiate appearance from 

 the peculiar ossification ; the blood is faintly pinkish. This 

 habit of a young eel, which at first sight was supposed to be 

 a conger frequenting moist sand, is interesting. 



On the multiple Tumours of Plaice and Common Flounders. 



In Day's l History of British Fishes '*, it is mentioned 

 that Lowe describes the common flounder of the Ouse as 

 " affected with a peculiar skin-disease resembling epithelioma 

 — large fungous growths cropping out over the whole body, 

 the granulations large and roe-like — under the microscope 

 * Part v. p. 36. 



