566 ox THE PLANKTON OF THE FAEROE CHANNEL. [June 21,' 



Faeroe Channel. In eggs cLaracterized bj' a large periviteliine 

 space, such as those of Hijjpocjlossoides and some species of Clupea, 

 the expansion of the zona is known to be accomplished after 

 deposition. The difference of dimension of the yolk-mass, as 

 between sp. 7, the Faeroe Channel egg, and the largest eggs 

 obtained by Cunningham from the Conger ', does not appear to be 

 considerable. The specific identity of the three appears at least 

 possible. 



On the other hand, it may -well be that Eafi'aele's group of eggs 

 belongs in fact to more than one family of physostomous fishes. 

 1 have described from Dr. Fowler's collection a series of larva;, 

 which are apparently not Eels, but which in conformation and 

 pigment agree rather closely with the larva of Eaffaele's no. 7, 

 though they entirely lack the peculiar buccal arjuature of the 

 latter. Such armature is, in the Eels, a very temporary pheno- 

 menon, the leptocephaline condition being devoid of it. 



To attempt to connect the Faeroe egg with the elongate larva 

 from the same region were simply an unprofitable speculation ; 

 but it may be suggested that the characters of segmented yolk 

 and large periviteliine space, common to Muraenidas aud Clupeidse, 

 may be equally present in the ova of Scopeloids and of such, if 

 any, Saluionoids as propagate by means of pelagic eggs. In point 

 of attenuation I know no larvae more eel-like than some of the 

 Clupeoids. I do not suppose that the egg with which we are 

 dealing is that of a Clupeoid, but, whether it be identical with 

 Eaffaele's no. 7, or different, our knowledge of the development 

 of the pelagic aud bathybial members of the other groups 

 mentioned is hardly such as to permit us to definitely assign it to 

 any one of them. 3IaUotus, which I have suggested as a possible 

 parent of the elongate larva, is known to deposit ova which are 

 demersal in littoral waters. If any description of their structure 

 exists I have not seen it. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 

 Plate XLVI. 

 Fig. 1. Scope/us glacia!ii<, '[i'n mm., i-i. o^y2. Foriiiol. 



2. „ ,, 12 mm. lormol. 



3. ,, „ 115 iiiin. Formol. The larvnl siiius in front of 



tiie dorsal fin rather collapted. 



4. Dorsal yiew of the same specimeu. Formol. 



6. S. glacialis, 8 mm. Oil of cloves. 



Plate XLVII. 



Fig. fi. A', glacialis, fi-.T mm., p. nb'l. Oil of cloves. 



7. ,, ,, 4-5 mm. Oil of cloves. 



8. Larva with elongate abdomen, 24-5 mm., p. 500. Oil of cloves. 



i). Head of young Mallvtiiti villosvs't, 30 mm., p. 560. From Iceland. 

 AlcolKji. 



10. Yonng iV. i77/c/««?, 425 ram., p. 500. From Iceland. Alcohol. 



11. „ „ 57 mm. From Iceland. Alcohol. Xatural size. 



12. Young Gadiis tBglefivus, 8 mm., p. 551. Formol. 



1 Cf. Journ. M. E. A., n. s. ii. 18t>l, pp. 24 



