32 



LIFE-HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF 



less uniform tints. The ling shows a similar series of trans- 

 formations, the colours, however, differing in their arrange- 

 ment, being marked with gamboge-yellow in its larval, slightly 

 barred in its early post-larval stage, then the body becomes 



Fig. 6. Tessellated condition of young Cod (spirit -preparation). 



more or less uniformly tinted in its post-larval phase, and the 

 little fish is furnished with a pair of enormously developed 

 and bright yellow ventral fins (Fig. 6) — so different from the 

 short ones of the adult. It is next striped longitudinally when 



Fig. 6. Long-finned Post-larval Ling, enlarged. 



about three inches long (Fig. 7), thus affording a great contrast 

 to the tessellated condition of the young cod. In this stage 

 an olive-brown baud passes from the tip of the snout in a 

 line with the middle of the eye, straight backward to the base 

 of the caudal fin-rays. The pale ventral surface bounds it 

 inferiorly, while a dorsal stripe with a beautiful opaline lustre 



Fig. 7. Young Ling, about 3 inches long (in spirit). 



runs from the tip of the snout, over the upper part of each 

 eye to the tail, on which it is opaque white, thus giving the 

 fish a characteristic appearance. The dorsal line from the 



