Notes on tlic Larval Stages of ^fotelln. 157 



subsequently proved to be young forms of Motella cimhria. 

 Our yacht had just dropped anchor in AVhiting 13ay, on the 

 east shore of tlie Island of Arran, and we were preparing to 

 make some tow-nettings. The sea was extremely calm, and 

 as the hour was shortly before sundown, I expected a rich 

 gathering of forms at the surface. Whilst preparing for 

 work, a large number of larval fishes were seen to be playing 

 at the surface all around the yacht, and as they darted away 

 from us the water appeared to be glittering all over with 

 silvery streaks. I hastily concluded they were young 

 herring, and a large number were at once secured and 

 placed in a carboy filled with sea water. As we extended 

 our observations further and further away from the yacht, 

 we had a good opportunity of watching the movements of 

 the young fishes. They were evidently feeding on the 

 shoals of copepoda and larval Crustacea, which I presumed 

 to be present, and. which were subsequently revealed by 

 means of the tow-net. Indeed, the sea was so calm at the 

 time, that the only motion of its surface appeared to be 

 caused by living organisms. The smaller species of cope- 

 poda were of course indistinguishable from the dingy, but 

 larger forms, such as Anomalocera Patersoni and Calanus 

 finmarchicus, were readily observed in the water. A curious 

 broad and intermittent ripple was caused by a larger 

 crustacean, which proved on examination to be the young 

 of the lobster. One or two species of amphipods and an 

 annelid were also noted at the surface, whilst in the tow- 

 nets we obtained a rich and varied gathering. An examina- 

 tion of our collection of larval fishes showed at a glance 

 that I had been too hasty in supposing them to be herring 

 fry. The specimens varied from f to 1 J inches in length. The 

 colour of the ventral surface was a brilliant silver, which 

 gradually faded into a greenish-black towards the dorsal 

 aspect. The outline Avas relatively short and thick, and 

 the majority of the specimens had enormous fan-like 

 ventrals, which at once recalled Agassiz's drawings of the 

 larval stages of Motella argentea. In order if possible to 

 identify the species, a large number of the fry were kept 

 alive until we reached Rothesay, and were then transferred 



