58 Prof. M'Intosh's Notes from the 



showed nearly ripe ovarian eggs on the Ibth December, and 

 that they had a dull golden colour, while the structure of the 

 zona (capsule) is given. The males at the same time showed 

 well-formed sperms. It is added that the species seems to 

 spawn from January (or perhaps December) to April. In 

 the reccndy published ' Scandinavian Fishes ' the authors 

 observe * that " the males are so rare that neither Kroyer nor 

 Ekstrom has met with a full-grown example ; nor, during 

 late years, has the Royal Museum met with a single example. 

 It is probable that it is only during the spawning-season that 

 they live in so shallow water as to be in any danger from the 

 nets used in shore-tishing. The spawning-season is in spring, 

 in 31 arch and April or the begiiming of May. We have no 

 information as to the way in which the roe is deposited or the 

 development of the fry." So far as our observations go the 

 males are by no means rare, and they accompany the females 

 into the shallow water, and pass into the estuaries of the 

 Eden and the Tay. The remarks published on the subject 

 have escaped the notice of the authors. 



The occurrence cf a small mass of ova of this species on 

 1st October, 1894, considerably extends the spawning-period. 

 It was procured at low water near the pier-rocks at St. An- 

 drews, attached to the root of a tangle. Tiie eggs measured 

 from 1-7526 millim. (-0705 inch) to 1-9050 millim. (-075 inch), 

 showing that the ovarian examples mentioned in the " Re- 

 searches," as, indeed, had often been observed, were nearly 

 ripe. Each Qo;,g at this date (1st October) had a large oil- 

 globule and an advanced embryo. The circulation was in 

 active operation on the 27th November, the exterior of the 

 tgg being further coated with many parasites. In January 

 and February 1895 the eggs were frozen, and they remained 

 so nearly a month ; yet on the 2nd March some of the embryos 

 were alive, and, though the water could not be changed, as 

 the pumping-apparatus was under repair, were safely hatched. 

 The remarkable hardihood of such eggs is in contrast with 

 the pelagic ova, which, as a rule, would have been killed. 



The egg-capsule is very tough, and rebounds from the 

 needle under pressure like a ball of india-rubber. Under a 

 low power the torn edge shows layer upon layer of the secre- 

 tion. It is thus difficult to extrude a perfect embryo. 



The larv£e immediately after hatching closely correspond 

 with that captured in the bay and figured by Prof. Prince f. 

 The body is about 7 millim. long, the tail being somewhat 



* ' Scandiuaviau Fishes,' 2nd edit., 1892, p. 210. 



t Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb. vol. xxxv. pi. xviii. figf. 11. 



