Notes from the Gutty Marine Laboratory, 153 



XX. — Notes from the Gatty Marine Laboratory, St. Andrews. 

 —No. XXXI. By Prof. M^ntosh, M.D., LL.D., 

 F.R.S., &c. 



[Plates V. & VI.] 



1. On a Youno: Stage of Gadus luscus with bold transverse bars of 



pigment. 



2. On the British Spinnidce. 



3. On the Sjnonidce dredged by H.M.S. ' Porcupine ' in 1869 and 1870. 



On a Young Stage of Gadus luscus with bold transverse 

 bars of pigment. 



The example (Plate V. fig. 1), which measured 70 mm. ia 

 length, was thrown alive on the sand by a runlet of sea- 

 water near the Pole Rock, adjoining the West Sands, 

 St. Andrews, on 3rd April, 1908, along with a young ling 

 of 7^ laches in the boldly banded condition. The young 

 bib had a brownish-red colour with very distinct black bars, 

 a coloration which, like that of the young cod, may be 

 protective amongst the seaweeds and rocks. The dorsal 

 surface of the head is covered with dark pigment, a pale 

 band separating this from a dark band joining the upper 

 border of each operculum. A broad dark belt passes down- 

 ward below the interval between the 1st and 2nd dorsals to 

 the ventral border ; and the abdomen in front, almost to the 

 opercular aperture, has a considerable amount of pigment. 

 The most perfect band is a broad one which has its anterior 

 border at the last third of th.e 2nd dorsal and passes with a 

 slight slope backward to the base of the 1st anal. Its 

 posterior edge is a little behind a line joining the intervals 

 between the 2nd and 3rd dorsals and the anals. The last 

 area of dark pigment occupies the region extending behind 

 the 3rd dorsal and the 2nd anal to the base of the caudal 

 rays. The dorsal and ventral edges of the body have much 

 black pigment; and an interrupted line of distinct and 

 larger pigment-specks passes from a point a little behind 

 the eye neaily to the end of the 3rd dorsal, and at a short 

 distance from the dorsal edge. A similar line is visible 

 close to the base of the 2nd anal, and it may have e3;tended 

 further forward in life. Besides the bars the skin is covered 

 by a general dusting of black specks, and these extend over 

 the chin, opercular region, the median fins, especially the 

 1st anal and the anterior part of the 2nd. The dorsa's 

 show fewer specks. At the base of the pect )ral dorsally is 

 a patch of black pigment, and at a somewhat higher level in 



Ann. & Mag, A'. Hist. Ser. 8. Vol. iii. 11 



