of the Fishery Board for Scotland 



55 



length respectively. The earstones, which are tolerably flat, are broadly 

 oval in outline, those of the largest of the three fishes (fig. 50) measure 

 fully 7mm. in length and 4 , 5mm. in width, the greatest width being near 

 the middle. The lower margin is moderately convex and even, the 

 posterior end is broadly truncate, but the proximal end terminates in a 

 short narrow process ; the upper margin, from the posterior end forward 

 to about the middle of the otolith is slightly arcuate and even, but it then 

 slopes abruptly towards the narrow proximal extremity. The lateral 

 surfaces are moderately smooth. The earstones of the smallest of the 

 three fishes (fig. 51) measure 6'4mm. by 4mm., and closely resemble the 

 others in form and sculpture. The earstones of these young Sebastes are 

 comparatively as large as those of the sea bream. 



Genus Scorpcena. 



Scorpcena dactyloptera, De la Roche. The Blue-mouth. PI. iii. b., fig. 53. 



The earstones of a Scorpcena 14 inches long are represented by the 

 photograph (fig. 53). They are moderately large, measuring 14mm. in 

 length and about 6 7mra. in width, the greatest width being a little in 

 front of the middle. The lower margin is tolerably arcuate and obscurely 

 crenated; the posterior extremity is truncated, and the margin slopes 

 obliquely forward. The proximal portion of the earstone is moderately 

 long and narrow ; the upper margin, which is obscurely crenate or lobed, 

 extends from the posterior angle in a nearly straight line, slightly diverging 

 from the lower margin, to a little beyond the middle, where it terminates 

 in an abrupt break, and from this break to the anterior extremity the 

 earstone is comparatively narrow. Both the inner and outer sides of the 

 earstones are nearly smooth. These earstones were equal to about one- 

 twenty- fifth part of the entire length of the fish. 



Fam. Oottidje. 

 Genus Coitus. 



Cottus scorpius, Linn. Sea Scorpion. PI. iii. b., figs. 63-65. 



The earstones represented by fig. 63 (PL iii. b.), and which are about 

 6mm. in length by 3mm. in depth, were obtained from a large variety of 

 Cottus scorpius (var. grmnlandicus), but the size of the fish was not 

 recorded. The middle portion of the lower margin is nearly straight, 

 then it turns slightly upwards at both ends ; the upper margin is nearly 

 parallel with the middle portion of the lower, but this part of the upper 

 margin, beginning at the posterior end, extends only to a little 

 beyond the middle of the otolith, where it terminates somewhat abruptly, 

 the remaining part of the otolith being narrow and ending in a moderately 

 sharp-pointed extremity. The posterior end is bluntly rounded. A 

 second and more typical specimen of C. scorpius, which measured 

 6| inches in length, had earstones only a little smaller than the other, 

 their form being also slightly different (fig. 65). Fig. 64 represents the 

 otoliths of a very small Cottus belonging to the same species. 



Genus Trigla. 



Trigla gumardus, Linn. The Grey Gurnard. PI. i. b., figs. 46-52 ; 

 pl. iv., figs. 12 and 13. 



