372 



W. C. Mcintosli, 



of the tang'les and Fuci in the pools or in similar qnarters just be- 

 yond low-water mark. It is usually about the 12*^^ of August before 

 the youug shannies (wliich have passed tbe post-larval stage) appear 

 in the rock-pools where they have been familiär for more than 

 fifty years. At Naples a corresponding stage is reached earlier in the 

 season, viz. in June, as a speeimen kindly forwarded with many 

 other interesting forms by Dr. H. C. Williamson, shows. Indeed 

 it seems to be an older fish at its length (16 mm) than those pro- 

 cured here in August — probably because the adults do not attain 

 so large a size as with us. 



From the 12^^ of August onward the rate of growth is well 

 shown in the groups which were captured by means of the hand-net 

 in the pools. Thus a Single example obtained on the 20*^ August 

 measured 22 mm. 74 were secured on the 26*^ August, and of 

 these 1 had reached 26 mm; 16 — 22 mm; 13 — 21mm; 18— 20 mm 

 and 12 — 19 mm. Such proportions show that whilst the bulk of the 

 pelagic forms ränge between 19 and 22 mm, there is a decided in- 

 crease in the general growth. On 28*^ August 50 were captured; 

 3 had reached 27 mm; 1— 24mm; 9— 23 mm; 2— 22mm; 16— 21mm; 

 15 — 20 mm and 4 — 19 mm. The larger forms in all probability 

 gradually left the pelagic series and assumed more or less the habit 

 of the adult; yet, as the season advanced, the increase (in size) of 

 the larger pelagic forms was noteworthy. Out of 41 collected on the 

 3^^ September — 3 reached 27mm; 2 — 26mm; 8 — 25mm; 5 — 24mm; 

 4— 23 mm; 5 — 22 mm; 8 — 21mm; 5— 20 mm and 1—19 mm. On 

 September 6*^ twenty nine were captured, and of these 1 reached 



29 mm; 3— 28 mm; 4— 27 mm; 1—26 mm; 4— 24 mm; 1—23 mm; 

 8 — 22 mm; 3— 21 mm and 4 — 20 mm. Eight young shannies pro- 

 cured on September 22 gave the following measurements : 1 — 30mm; 

 2—28 mm; 2—27 mm; 1-25 mm; 1—22 mm and 1—20 mm. 

 On September 30 the length s of two were respectively 28 and 



30 mm. Small forms still occurred, for on October 7*^ one measured 

 19 mm, and another' 26 mm. On the 14*'' December, one of 31mm 

 was procured; and on the 24*^ January another of the same size. 



On reviewing the various young stages of the shanny in the 

 collection from St. Andrews it is clear that those which occur in 

 June are not of the same season as that of 16 mm from Naples, for 

 they ränge from 31 to 66 mm, and probably therefore pertain to the 

 young of previous seasons. 



Wben the young shannies first appear in the rock-pools about 



