THE WEEVER FAMILY. 157 



brain, about the eye and ear-capsules, and on the fins, as well 

 as over the yolk and other parts of the body. Thus, as Mr Holt 

 observes, at a comparatively early stage of development in the 

 egg the yellow pigment is in excess of the black, whereas 

 subsequently it diminishes. 



In the recently-hatched larva of Mr Holt, measuring 327 mm. 

 (Plate VI, fig. 7) the black pigment of the trunk forms a con- 

 spicuous line from the pelvic fins to the posterior fourth of the 

 tail, while, in those hatched by Mr Brook in his aquarium, the 

 pigment was much less developed. Then the black pigment 

 becomes " concentrated into two bars, one above the vent and 

 the other midway between this and the tail, and they remain 

 till the post-larval stage — when all yellow pigment, except three 

 touches at the margin of the dorsal fin, disappears." 



Before hatching, the pelvic fins are distinct, and they are 

 soon rotated and carried downward and forward to a ventral 

 position, a little behind the breast-fins. This condition, viz. 

 the early appearance of these fins (pelvic) is remarkable amongst 

 bony fishes. As a rule they do not appear till much later. In 

 three days Mr Holt found that the fishes reached the post- 

 larval stage, by which time the yolk had been absorbed and 

 the mouth and the vent were open. 



A fine example (Plate VI, fig. 8) about 15 mm. long (in 

 spirit) was procured by the ' Garland ' probably at the end of 

 summer or beginning of autumn — to judge from the condition 

 of a young rockling accompanying it '. Many of the adult 

 characters are now present, though the body is much flattened. 

 Black pigment occurs in specks on the snout, a black spot is 

 placed beneath each eye, and each opercular region has the 

 same coloration, which is connected superiorly with that tinting 

 the brain and the snout. Patches of similar pigment are present 

 in front of the breast- fins, and a broad black band extends from 

 the opercular spines rather beyond the middle of the body, and 

 from the dorsum as far down as the lateral line. A few isolated 

 specks exist on the side between the latter and the ventral 

 margin. The lower jaw is directed obliquely upward and 



1 W. C. M. 9th Am. Rept. S. F. B. p. 324, 1891. 



