9S Prof. M'lntosh's Notes from the 



and two olive-brown bands, with a small third in front. The 

 rest of the dorsal is bordered with olive-brown, and touches 

 slant from above downward and backward at intervals. 

 Collett describes the dorsal as " marked with oblique trans- 

 verse bands." The anal is pale, with white rays. The 

 irides are olive-brown, with a golden lusti'e. The cheeks 

 are minutely dotted with the same pigment. The beautifully 

 regular rows of scales are visible to the naked eye, but more 

 clearly under a lens. 



In the original British specimen the tail was thus described 

 by Dr. Day : — " Caudal with one elongated ray above and 

 another below, the five intermediate ones being somewhat 

 concave, the remainder being sliorter. Most probably this 

 elongation is a sexual one, this fish being a male." Mr. Sim* 

 found the caudal of his examples acuminate, as stated by 

 Collett, and such is the condition in the present example. On 

 examining the type-specimen in the University Museum here, 

 it is apparent that the caudal rays have been dried and are 

 more or less adherent. I^ot one ray, however, but several 

 raySj dorsally and ventrally, are longer, the intermediate rays 

 being sliorter, though to a less extent than Dr. Day figures. 

 These median rays seem to be more slender and to shrink 

 more in spirit, so that if the longer rays were obliquely spread 

 out {i. e. dorsally and ventrally), and also the shorter external 

 rays which pass from the base of the caudal over and under 

 these, a different outline would readily be formed — indeed, it 

 would ap])roach that of the female. This interpretation, of 

 course, is apart from the possible injury to these median rays 

 in the original specimen. Further, on examination of tlie 

 well-preserved female here described a somewhat similar 

 appearance is observed, the longer dorsal and ventral rays 

 projecting and the median receding ; yet the form of the fin 

 in the fresh condition is like a broad lancet or spear-head. 

 The foregoing observations therefore are given as a caution 

 in regard to the apparently divergent condition of the caudal 

 in the specimen first procured. 



The ovaries were slightly developed and small, the eggs 

 measuring "02286 to 0'30i8 millim., most ranging themselves 

 round the latter diameter. They were therefore at a compa- 

 ratively early stage, thus proportionately correspouding with 

 those procured from the Moray Firth by Mr. iSim, in which 

 the roe was " well advanced at the end of April, much more 

 so than the milt of the males." The ripe eggs are unknown. 



ISince the first recorded British specimen Mr. G. Sim has 



* Journ. Linn. Soc, Zool. vol. xx. p. 38. 



