282 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



ing some part of January or perhaps earlier, when the fry 

 may be observed a little more than half an inch in length, 

 with a part of the ovum adhering to the abdominal region, 

 which remains about a month attached and then becomes 

 absorbed. At this age the fry are of a translucent, shape- 

 less appearance, the head small and rounded ; the eyes large ; 

 the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins continuous, and the tail 

 rounded at the end. In February they are found one inch in 

 length, assuming more the appearance of a fish ; the head 

 one- fourth the whole length, caudal not included ; all the 

 fins separate, with the caudal slightly notched at the ex- 

 tremity ; along the course of the depressed lateral line, are 

 placed from nine to eleven transverse dusky bars, which are 

 as yet obscurely visible. In March they are about two 

 inches in length with the lateral bars more conspicuous, and 

 the tail-fin deeper notched. In April they are seen in the 

 Tweed from three to four inches in length, with the back 

 of a dark blue and slightly spotted ; belly and under the 

 throat pure white ; lateral bars very conspicuous, having a 

 bright red spot placed between each ; the sides below the 

 bars are frequently tinged with yellowish-green ; pectorals 

 dusky ; ventrals and anal pale straw colour ; operculum 

 with one or two large black spots, tinged occasionally with 

 red ; caudal deeply forked. In May they are observed the 

 length of from four to five inches or more, and at the end 

 of that month they perform their first migration to the sea ; 

 they are now of a fine silvery appearance, the back of a 

 deep glossy blue, the cheeks, sides, and belly of a pure 

 silvery -white ; the ends of the pectorals black ; the dorsal 

 and caudal dusky ; ventrals and anal, and the last two rays 

 of the dorsal, white ; the spots on the gill-covers rather ob- 

 scure ; the scales very deciduous, which when removed from 



