564 MR. E. W. L. HOLT ON THE [JuU6 21 , 



with advance of general development. In the number of myomeres 

 both Faeroe and Iceland forms agree well enough with Mallotus. 



The latter has not been recorded from any point nearer to the 

 Faeroe Channel than the coast of Norway, but appears to be a fish 

 of pelagic habit, approaching the coast only for the purpose of 

 spawning. The ova are demersal, and it may be objected that our 

 Faeroe larvae are too young to be found so far from land. This 

 objection depends for its validity on a knowledge of the rate of 

 growth, which is not forthcoming. 



Although I think I have demonstrated the possibility of 

 connecting the Faeroe larvse, through intermediate stages as 

 represented by the Iceland series, with the adult form of Mallotus 

 villosus, I do not think we are justified in considering the question 

 settled. The fact is that we know next to nothing of the 

 development of many marine forms and especially of the pelagic 

 and bathybial species, nor can it be supposed likely that a few 

 sporadic cruises have furnished us with an even approximately 

 complete list of the fish-fauna of the Faeroe Channel. In all proba- 

 bility there is a strong resemblance between the larvse of many 

 pbysostouious fishes, however widely they may be separated in the 

 adult condition. Of the method of reproduction of bathybial 

 fishes, whether by pelagic or demersal ova, we are in most cases 

 ignorant. The characters of the Faeroe larva, though probably 

 sufficient to exclude it from the Mura3iiida3, are such as might 

 occur equally in a Salrnonoid, Scopeloid, or Clupeoid. Any 

 Clupeoids known as inhabitants of the region may be eliminated, 

 since we know the larval stages of all of them. The same remark 

 applies, as I think, to Argentina spliyrcma ; specimens of 37 mm. 

 have already acquired the adult conformation 1 , though only about 

 13 mm. longer than the Faeroe example, which is still practically 

 undifferentiated. The size-interval does not appear sufficient, and 

 1 imagine that this species of Argentina has a shorter larva, with, 

 of course, fewer myomeres. A. situs has 65 to 68 vertebras and 

 is a much larger fish. It may conceivably pass through a larval 

 stage like the Faeroe form if its pelvic fins undergo an anterior 

 migration. Among the Scopeloids Stomias is an elongate form, 

 and S. ferox has been recorded by Giirither from the Faeroe 

 Channel (Chall. xxxi. op. cit. p. 31). 



However, the example in question, though capable of even 

 specific determination, was again only 37 mm. in length ; \i hile I 

 can find in the Faeroe larva of 24-5 mm. no trace of the barbel 

 and enlarged teeth of Stomias. I have already referred to the 

 characters of the Paralepidce, and the enumeration might be 

 prolonged but always without bringing us, for the present, any 

 nearer to a definite conclusion. 



Dr. Fowler's specimens were taken as follows : 



13 i. 60 2' N., 5 C 49' W. 100 to fathoms. Two, 19 and 

 24'5 mm. 



20 c. CO C 16' K, 5 49' W. 400 to 300 fathoms. One, 17 mm. 



1 Holt & Calclerwood, Trans. E. Dubl. Soc. ser. 2, v. 1895, p. 5C9, fig. J. 



