204 THE BLENNY FAMILY. 



behind the pectoral fins, in the dorsal wall of the abdominal 

 cavity, and a few over the upper part of the yolk-sac. The 

 pigment rapidly increases to form a blackish band on each side 

 from the pectoral fin to the vent. ' In lateral view, it becomes 

 aggregated largely in two lines, and gradually reaches the base 

 of the tail.' The pectoral fins are well developed, and are kept 

 in active movement. They gradually increase in size and become 

 large fan-like expansions. The ventrals arise late. The median 

 embryonic fin is, as above mentioned, continuous from the back 

 of the head to the vent, and forwards to the yolk-sac. It 

 rapidly diminishes in size in comparison with the growing 

 body. In a fortnight it is broken up into separate fins, and 

 spinous rays appear at the second month. The tail is usually 

 more or less lobulated, though it may be lanceolate ; thus the 

 shape differs from that of the adult tail-fin. 



At the expiration of two months the larval fish has in- 

 creased considerably in size ; the fin-rays, dorsal and ventral, 

 are the same in number as in the adult, and the pigmentation 

 has become more pronounced. The head, closely covered with 

 pigment-spots, presents a slate-grey hue, the same tint being 

 continued on the anterior part of the body. Double longitu- 

 dinal lines of black pigment run doi'sally and laterally through- 

 out the trunk, and, later, black sjDots extend to the ventral 

 marginal fin. 



Plate VIII, fig. 2, shows a lateral view of the young fish at 

 the end of about three-and-a-half months. The sides have 

 a silvery lustre with oblique black markings, especially conspicu- 

 ous in the abdominal region, and extending a short way over 

 the yolk-sac. The back and sides present a greyish black tint 

 with black specks. The eye is silvery. The jaws are well- 

 developed and the snout has grown forward between the eyes. 



At a length of five to six inches (in July) the young fish 

 shows an interrupted row of black spots on the dorsal fin: 

 similar black spots on the sides may coalesce more or less to 

 form bars. This forms a transition to the adult condition with 

 its bold stripes on the back and sides, and reminds one of the 

 condition of the spotted sea-cat of Norwegian waters. Such 

 specimens are probably about 6 months old, perhaps more, 



