THE SEA-SCORPION FAMILY. 141 



the leading adult characters (Plate V, figs. 14 and 15). The 

 three pectoral rays are free ; the general pigmentation has 

 increased, probably correlated with its change of habitat to the 

 shallower inshore waters ; while the pigment upon the pectoral 

 fins is conspicuously disposed in three bands, a basal and two 

 distal, and that on the hinder part of the body forms a pair 

 of prominent V-shaped vertical bands. The head and dorsal 

 fins are also boldly marked. 



Later, the spines on each side of the dorsal fin and on the 

 lateral line are distinct, and the membrane connecting the base 

 of the three free pectoral rays gradually disappears. 



During September and October little gurnards from ^ to 

 ^in. in length are found, and again at the end of October 

 a specimen about 29 mm. or 1^ inch occurs. In this specimen 

 the pigment shows the same general arrangement as in the 

 last (Plate V, figs. 14 and 15) but is more abundant. The tail has 

 brownish pigment-spots dusted over its distal half and a thick 

 mass of brown pigment at its base, and these two areas 

 are divided by a broad transverse band without pigment, 

 so that the general effect is that of two dark bands and a 

 light one crossing the rays of the tail. The back and sides 

 have blotches of brownish pigment and that on the dorsal fins 

 is black. A dense black blotch is found on the first dorsal, and 

 two faint black longitudinal lines run on the second dorsal fin. 

 The barred condition of the pectorals is no longer evident, for 

 the deep black pigment covers the whole fin. The pigment 

 has increased under the eyes. Four longitudinal rows of spines 

 running down the trunk are now conspicuous, two on the back, 

 on either side of the dorsal fins, and two along the lateral line. 

 The pectoral fins now bear a smaller proportion than here- 

 tofore to the size of the fish and approach those of the adult. 



A young gurnard of 2 inches caught at the end of 

 November shows the black pigment confined to the distal 

 half of the pectoral fins, and the first dorsal fin has the 

 same change, the black pigment being now concentrated in 

 one large spot. The pigment of the body is also more diffuse 

 and closely resembles that of the adult. 



A specimen almost identical in size and appearance occurs 



