ON RESEARCHES ON FOOD-FISHES. 143 



larval stages of Agonus, Motella, and other forms. The early post-larval 

 stage of Agonus is peculiar from its fusiform outline and yellowish colora- 

 tion. The former is due to the great median development of the marginal 

 fin dorsally and ventrally. The post-larval condition oi Liparis montagui 

 has likewise come under notice when about 10 mm. in length. The noto- 

 chord still projects superiorly from the tip of the tail, and the hypural edge 

 is almost vertical. The caudal region, with its fin-rays, is bluntly conical. 

 A marked feature is the elevation of the first region of the dorsal fin and 

 its wider rays, a differentiation, perhaps, indicating the relationship with 

 a form in which such is present in the adult. The head and cheeks have 

 a few black specks, and these also occur on the anterior region of the 

 body. The pectorals are speckled in a similar manner. The elongated 

 rays of these fins are not yet developed, so that this is a subsequent cha- 

 racter. Their margins trend evenly from the anterior part of the sucker 

 backward and upward. The difierence in regard to the size of the eye 

 of such a species as this and one of the post-larval gadoids is marked, the 

 large eyes of the latter being diagnostic, and probably associated with 

 their greater adroitness and activity in catching minute prey. 



The researches on the development and life-histories of the food- and 

 other fishes made by the Secretary (Professor Mcintosh) and Mr. E. E. 

 Prince, B.A. (Cantab.), comprising upwards of 400 pages MS. and 31 

 quarto plates, containing many coloured figures, have recently (June 18) 

 been communicated to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 



A special research was carried out by Mr. E. E. Prince on the 

 Morphology of the Limbs of Teleosteaus, and illustrated by three quarto 

 plates. This work, like that already published or about to be published, 

 reflects great credit on its author, both for the careful nature of the 

 observations and the beauty and accuracy of the drawings. 



Another investigation, no less able, is that of Dr. Marcus Gunn, M.A., 

 M.R.C.S., one of the surgeons of Moorfields Hospital, London, on the 

 Embryology of the Retina of the Teleosteans. A preliminary paper on 

 this important subject appears in the ' Annals of Natural History ' for 

 this month (September). 



Professor D. J. Cunningham, M.D., M.R.I. A., is also engaged on the 

 Development of the Teleostean Vertebral Column; while Professor 

 Burdon Sanderson and Mr. Gotch ' carried on during the summer an 

 investigation (in the living skate) of the caudal electrical organ. Many 

 embryo skates have since been sent to Dr. Minot of America and Professor 

 Ewart for microscopic purposes in connection with this research and 

 other investigations. Mr. Kennedy, B.Sc. of Glasgow University, also 

 spent a few weeks in working at the development of the haddock, and 

 Mr. Grabham, B.A. of Cambridge, a similar period in examining the 

 spinal nerves of the cod. 



One of the most interesting results of the steady use of the mid- water 

 and other nets for some years in St. Andrews Bay and elsewhere has 

 been the testing of the Pelagic life at various seasons, so as to elucidate 

 the nature of the food of the post-larval food-fishes, and also throw light 

 on other questions. For the year 1888 the continuation of this work 

 has been specially undertaken for the Fishery Board for Scotland, and 

 will therefore be dealt with elsewhere. Independently, however, of the 

 bearings of the fauna and flora (diatoms, &c.) on the food of fishes, some 

 remarkable forms have come under notice, and the growth and habits of 



' Vide Proc. Roy. Soc, 1888. 



