1898.] ON THE BEEEDIKG OF THE DEAGONET. 281 



largely developed. Monsieur Porte had kindly offered, in case it 

 could be arranged, to receive a visit to it of the female now in the 

 Society's Gardens, but Mr. Sclater feared that it would be too 

 risky to advise the transport to Paris and back of such an animal. 

 Amongst the breeding groups of larger animals in the Jardin 

 d'Acclimatation, Mr. Sclater had specially noticed those of Cervus 

 davidinnus (3 examples), 07-eas canna (5 examples), C'obus unctuosus 

 (5 examples), and Oryx leucori/x (3 examples). Mr. Sclater had 

 also examined with great interest a specimen of a beautiful small 

 Wild Cat from Siam, which was quite new to him. It was 

 labelled Felis minnta, but was certainly quite different from Felis 

 javensis as figured by Elliot (' Pelidse,' plate xxviii.), under which 

 name Mr. Elliot had placed Felis minuta of Temminck as a 

 synonym. 



The following papers were read : — 



1, On the Breeding of the Dragonet [Callionymus lyra) in the 

 Marine Biological Association's Aquarium at Plymouth ; 

 with a preliminary account of the Elements, and some 

 remarks on the significance of the Sexual Dimorphism. 

 By Ernest W. L. Holt. 



[Eeceived April 18, 1898.] 

 (Plate XXVI.) 

 Contents. 



I. Introductory and Historical, p. 281. 

 II. Secondary Sexual Characters, p. 233. 



III. Courtship and Pairing, p. 286. 



IV. Emijloyment of the Secondary Sexual Characters for purposes not con- 



nected with Reproduction, p. 294. 

 V. Preliminary Discussion of the Colour-Mechanism and Differentiation of 

 Coloration, p. 297. 

 VI. The Soluble Pigment and the Palatability, p. 305. 

 VII. General Considerations, p. 311. 



I. Introductory and Historical. 



So far as I am aware the Dragonet furnishes, among Teleostean 

 fishes propagating by pelagic ova, the only known instance of a 

 definite sexual intercoui'se. Since Savile Kent's account of the 

 pairing appeared rather meagre, I considered it desirable to make 

 further observations, and, Avith this end in view, commenced to 

 collect as many large specimens as possible in the autumn of 1897. 

 Experience with other marine forms had shown the necessity of 

 acclimatizing the fish to tank life some considerable time before 

 the breeding-season. The Dragonet, locally known as the Sting- 



