140 THE SEA-SCORPION FAMILY. 



same stages on their way to the adult condition. Instances of 

 this law, even more striking, will be noticed in the life-history 

 of the flat fishes. 



It is still an undecided point as to how far the gurnard 

 uses its three pairs of feelers only as tactile organs, or combines 

 with this function that of supporting the weight of the body 

 when at rest, and of assisting locomotion. 



Returning to the young forms of gurnards, fig. 13, p. 57 

 shows a post-larval stage of about f inch in length. The tail 

 is markedly heterocercal and the enormous pectoral, and small 

 ventral, fins are noticeable. The marginal fin has a dorsal 

 indentation, which indicates the future splitting up into first 

 and second dorsal fins, though only embryonic rays are present 

 at this stage. 



Black pigment has increased over the pectoral fins, head, 

 cheeks and abdomen. At this and later stages there is often 

 to be found attached to the head a young form of the parasitic 

 crustacean, ('aligns. 



Further development proceeds in the direction of the break- 

 ing up of the marginal fin to form the caudal, the dorsals and 

 the anals, and the appearance of adult fin-rays ; the ventral 

 fins also elongate till they reach beyond the vent. 



A post-larval gurnard at this stage (Plate V, fig. 13) 

 is one of the most grotesque little animals which one meets 

 with, its long angular snout, large greenish eyes, huge pectoral 

 fins and numerous little spines all adding to its unique ap- 

 pearance. The huge pectoral fins form a drapery for the entire 

 body when folded back, only the tip of the tail extending be- 

 yond them. They are indeed proportionally as large as in the 

 southern flying gurnards, but in these the fins reach full de- 

 velopment only in adult life, while in the young stages they 

 are comparatively small, exactly the reverse happening in the 

 grey gurnard of our seas. 



At f inch, the black and brownish pigment-spots, dusted 

 over the pectoral fins, may be noticed to have a tendency to 

 group themselves into three transverse bands which later be- 

 come very marked. 



At a little over | of an inch, the little gurnard assumes 



