THE FLOUNDER FAMILY. 353 



pointed out that the eggs of this genus have a single oil-globule, 

 and his figure resembles the eggs of the present species, though 

 he does not show the minute structure of the capsule. His figure 

 of the larval fish probably refers to the Scald-fish (A. laterna) 

 or other form, and the same may be said of the post-larval 

 example with a long ray like a whip anteriorly. 



Mr Holt, who found ripe forms of both sexes off the west 

 coast of Ireland in March, April and May 1891, considered that 

 spawning takes place in moderately or in very deep water, and 

 necessarily in our country therefore at some distance from shore 

 where the declivity is gradual. It has long been known as an 

 inhabitant of the deep water off the east coast of Scotland. 

 The eggs (Plate IV, fig. 4) are transparent, have a diameter of 

 1-430 mm., and the oil-globule "3048 mm. Like the eggs of the 

 brill and lemon-dab, the capsule is covered with raised lines or 

 ridges with very fine strise between them, the usual minute 

 punctures being densely dotted over the surface. The raised 

 lines and ridges are present in the capsule after hatching has 

 taken place. The micropyle is difficult to distinguish, but it 

 appears to be sometimes situated in the centre of a radiate series 

 of lines in a space bounded by other ridges. It is best seen by 

 placing several eggs together on the bottom, so that they 

 support each other, and give special positions not seen when 

 each is free. 



Development progressed with considerable rapidity, so that 

 on the second day (29th May) the rim had either reached the 

 equator (centre of the egg) or extended beyond it, and it 

 clasped the yolk so tightly that a dimple was often present 

 on each side. On the third day, black pigment-corpuscles 

 appeared on the tail of the embryo and under the oil-globule, 

 while the lenses were also present. On the fourth day, the 

 ramification of the pigment-corpuscles was conspicuous, and 

 they extended along the sides. The heart exhibited faint con- 

 tractions. They hatched on the 5th day. 



The larva (Plate XIV, fig. 10) possesses only black pigment, 

 which is somewhat uniformly scattered over the body, a few 

 specks only occurring on the head. These pigment-grains also 

 extend on the marginal fin both dorsally and ventrally. Thus 



M. F. 23 



