862 PROFESSOR W. C. M'INTOSH AND MR E. E. PRINCE ON 



Andrews Bay. They were at once recognised by the deep black abdominal patch of pig- 

 ment. The head is greenish, while the body is comparatively pale. The eyes are bluish, 

 with a remarkable black St Andrews cross radiating from the pupil, the long axis being 

 placed horizontally. Its length is 8 mm. Besides the conspicuous streak of black pig- 

 ment which slopes downward and backward to the ventral edge, but does not meet that 

 of the opposite side, stellate pigment-corpuscles occur on the under surface of the abdomen, 

 a touch at the anterior region of the branchiostegal rays on the same surface, and a row 

 along the ventral edge of the body above the anal fin. One or two specks also are present 

 on the cheeks, and a considerable number over the brain, the latter being bounded poste- 

 riorly by a curved line which joins a median black band in front of the dorsal fin. 



The four tubercles on the head are prominent, the posterior pair being the larger. 

 The turbinal spines are not visible ; but the four preopercular spines are well marked, 

 the superior being especially distinct. 



The first dorsal fin is only slightly arched, the second is continuous posteriorly with 

 the larval tail-fin, which now lies at the upper angle, for the hypurals form a straight 

 edge posteriorly. The permanent rays give a somewhat conical shape to the tail ventrally. 

 The anal is likewise joined to the caudal; the pectorals form two fan-shaped organs, the 

 rays passing close to the surface of the body — that is, the basal region is short, and thus 

 in striking contrast to the organ in the larval Gadoids. The rays are massive though 

 soft, and, as in the adult, present considerable free portions at the tip. The ventral s 

 are small, and arise somewhat behind the bases of the pectorals. 



The next stage in the development of this species is illustrated by a specimen 18 

 mm. long, procured in St Andrews Bay in the beginning of June. Traces of the St 

 Andrews cross still occur in the eyes, the outer ends of the cross being most distinct. 

 The head is of a dusky olive hue, with dull yellow over the brain, and the yellowish colour 

 extends downward and backward to the upper abdominal region and in front of the 

 pectorals, black chromatophores being studded on both regions. A dark belt passes from 

 the first dorsal to the abdominal black band, where it ceases, then a pale bar intervenes 

 between it and another broad belt occupying about two-thirds of the second dorsal (the 

 anterior and posterior moieties being more or less free). A few blackish chromatophores 

 occur dorsally, however, in the anterior moiety. No pigment is present in the tail 

 beyond the latter region. The ventral portion of the abdomen is silvery ; the pectorals have 

 dark pigment at the base of the rays, but no further. The ventrals are small and pale. 

 The two dorsal fins are distinct, and the first has a small touch of pale pigment anteriorly, 

 and a larger posteriorly. A slight marginal fin connects the last with the tail. The head 

 presents the two large dermal processes on the occiput, and a smaller over each eye. 

 The three opercular spines are prominent. 



Agonus cataphf actus, L. (Post-Larval stage). — A peculiar form (PI. XVIII. fig. 11) 

 was procured in the mid-water net at 4 fathoms on ground 6 fathoms deep, St Andrews 

 Bay, April 4, 1887, and is now identified as the young of the above species. It is remark- 

 able for the great depth of both dorsal and ventral regions of the marginal fin, the outline 



