142 KEPOET— 1888. 



(as rock-cod) by hand-lines; wliile others of the same size, but having a 

 less raddy hue, abound at a somewhat greater distance from shore, e.g., 

 south-east of Girdleness in Aberdeenshire, and off the Bell Rock, and are 

 caught in numbers by both liners and trawlers. The large cod frequent 

 the deeper water at some distance from shore as a rule, though in pur- 

 suit of herrings they approach the shore more closely at certain seasons. 



The post-larval stages of the haddock have hitherto escaped recogni- 

 tion ; though G. O. Sars speaks of distinguishing the early post-larval 

 haddock by their shorter and stouter form as contrasted with the young 



cod. 



The life-history of the whiting has especially been elucidated during 

 the year, and further additions made to the post- larval stages of the ling. 

 It is interesting that two yellowish longitudinal bands occur along the 

 sides of the former in the adult condition, especially in connection with 

 the characteristic yellowish larval pigment. The development of the 

 Clupeoids of the bay has also been followed, and observations made on 

 their growth. The larval and post-larval stages of the sand-eel, so very 

 abundant in the bay, have likewise been studied. 



Amongst flat fishes (Pleuronectid*), the post-larval stages of the com- 

 mon flounder, the long rough dab and other forms, have been examined, 

 and their life-histories followed more or less completely. The eggs 

 apparently of the sole have been found late in summer near the surface of 

 the bay, and though the adults are few, there is no reason why they should 

 not be increased by artificial aid, such as the introduction of a number of 

 adults from Scai'borough and other convenient localities. The food of 

 the sole is very abundant in St. Andrews Bay, and the only difficulty 

 will be competition with the hardy plaice so numerous in this ground. 

 The post-larval stage apparently of the turbot was procured towards the 

 end of August, and is remarkable for its peculiar yellowish coloration. 

 Several unknown eggs probably belonging to the same group (Pleuronec- 

 tidse), and which were first met with in the trawling expeditions of 1884, 

 were also again observed, and further steps made to their identification. 



A post-larval Lahrus maculatus, 11 mm. in length, procured by the mid- 

 water net in September, showed some intei-esting featui-es in coloration, 

 the chief being a series of white touches on a greenish ground, with 

 brown bands on the head. The soft rays of the dorsal fins have not yet 

 attained the proportionally elongated condition of the adult organ. The 

 pectorals are large, and their rapid vibratory movement resembles that of 

 Hippocampus and the Sygnathidse. A brown bar marks their basal region, 

 which in this and many other post-larval fishes is much larger in propor- 

 tion than in the adult — a condition probably connected with increased 

 functional activity. The ventral fins are opaque white, with a brownish 

 belt in front (anterior rays). The anal fin, like the dorsal, has a brown 

 patch in front. None of the blue, yellow, or orange, so common in the 

 adult, has yet appeared. 



Additional observations have also been made on the spawning period 

 of various fishes about which little is at present known, such as the bass, 

 Yarrell's blenny, wrasse, &c. Remarkable cases in which mussels (Mytilus 

 edulis) have grown to a considerable size on the branchias of the haddock 

 have likewise been observed. 



Besides the food-fishes, further advances have been made on the 

 development of the gunnel, the adults of which remain with their ova in 

 holes {e.g., those bored by Pholas) in rocks, and on the larval and post- 



