172 Prof. M'lntosli's Notes from th-e 



There i?, liowever, no reason to doubt it, (1) because no 

 smaller form with transverse bars is known at St. Andrews ; 

 (2) because all the examples (and they are many) above this 

 size are transversely barred, the blotches remaining even to 

 the size (13^ in.) already indicated ; {?>) because no other 

 species of ling has hitherto been found in the neighbouring 

 waters. 



The above writer, in criticizing the figure of the early ling 

 in the 'Researches ' *, had forgotten to look at the text. The 

 outline of ihese delicate young forms is considerably altered 

 by strong alcohol, and whether a slip had occurred in 

 Prof. Prince's figure or in the work of the lithographer it is 

 now difficult to determine. At any rate, it is clearly stated 

 in the text that " the notochord passes almost in a straight 

 line backward to the tip of the tail, and the caudal fin is 

 continuous with the unbroken marginal fin dorsally and 

 ventrally. The great development of the ventral or per- 

 manent rays, however, slightly pushes the tip with the 

 embryonic radial striatious upward. The hypurals, two of 

 which are very distinct, are developing inferiorly, and the 

 epiurals dorsally, but they have only slightly affected the 

 direction of the notochord. The early development of the 

 ui>per caudal rays in this form is of interest, as it is in 

 marked contrast with such forms as the Pleuronectidae, in 

 which the inferior fin-rays alone appear." A re-examination 

 of the specimen in the University Museum bears out the 

 accuracy of this description, and shows tiiat the slightly 

 tapered tip of the notochord projects backward nearly in the 

 centre of the caudal rays, which are now taking the place of 

 the embryonic fin-rays. The hypural and epiural elements 

 are clearly visible. There is nothing in the preparation to 

 cause any confusion with the condition in a Pieuronectid, 

 from which the pelvic fins alone would at once distinguish 

 the young ling. 



3. On a large Example o/Ommastrephes saglttatus, d* Orh. 



Information was given by Mr. Andrew Brown, of Queen's 

 Gardens, iSt. Andrews, early in January of the stranding of 

 a large cuttlefish at the East Rocks, near the Rock and 

 Spindle. It had, unfortunately, been much destroyed by 

 birds before it was seen — the tentacles, funnel, all the viscera, 

 beaks, and even a large part of the muscles of the mantle 

 having been removed. A glance at the specimen showed that 



* Trans. I{. S. Edin. vol, xxxv. 



