Notes on the Sacher Fishes, Liparis and Lepadogaster. 147 



than Lepadogaster himaeulatus ; and the latter is, again, more 

 active and vigorous than L. Deeandolii. I have scarcely ever 

 taken the ova of L. himactdatus except arranged in regular 

 layers within the empty shells of Scallops {Pecten opercularis). 

 Even after the ova have been hatched, the shell retains the 

 impression of the eggs as originally deposited. The ova of 

 this fish I have brought out frequently from the shells, but 

 have never had it deposited in captivity. The eggs are 

 generally accompanied by the parent, curled up inside the 

 shell, watching over the progress of her progeny ; and if the 

 dredge should bring up a shell thus supplied with ova from 

 eight or twelve fathoms off scallop ground, if the fish is not 

 in the shell it is almost sure to be in the other contents of 

 the dredge, showing it had either come out in the capture, or 

 been watching close by. 



These captures from scallop ground are frequently of great 

 brilliance and beauty, varying greatly, probably according to 

 the ground, and passing from pale orange pink to the most 

 brilliant crimson. Certain of them are entirely without the 

 distinguishing two spots, whence their secondary name is 

 derived ; and these are otherwise generally the most brilliant 

 in colouring, and the most delicately organised. Shore-fish 

 — taken at low water, as they are occasionally — are not 

 commonly of so refined an organisation, or so gracefully 

 delicate, as those from the scallop ground. 



Liparis Montagui frequents stronger waters, and probably 

 also in consequence warmer waters, than Lepadogaster as a 

 general rule, and spawns in March ; while both our species 

 of Lepadogaster spawn in June and July. The eggs of all are 

 large compared with the fish ; and this may be said as a rule 

 of shore-fishes whose ova are comparatively few in number, 

 and more carefully watched over and tended by the parents. 

 The eggs, indeed, of Lepadogaster may be readily counted, 

 and average about 150. 



Within a very few hours after fecundation, the ova that 

 have been fecundated are easily distinguishable by the naked 

 eye from those that are barren ; and Fig. 1 shows them on 

 the fourth day distinctly marked. On the thirteenth day 

 the circulation is readily noted, and the eyes are almost as 



