of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



307 



Common Dab. — In the mid-water net of 26th April a specimen 27 mm. 

 was obtained. 



Brill. — Post-larval examples of the brill occur occasionally at the 

 surface of the sea in July. 



Turbot. — A translucent example, 13 mm. long, was captured on the 

 2nd August. The right eye had reached the margin, and the alimentary 

 canal and other viscera were readily visible in the almost transparent 

 animal. In regard to coloration — eight touches of white pigment 

 occurred along the margin of the dorsal fin, the first and last being 

 indistinct. Six touches existed at the margin of the ventral fin. Five 

 touches, again, were situated at the bases of the interneural spines — 

 mostly longitudinal in direction; while four or five specks of the same 

 kind occurred ventrally at the bases of the interhremal spines. Between 

 the dorsal white patches (marginal) were fine yellowish pigment-grains, 

 and a band of similar pigment stretches within the inner ventral series. 

 Very considerable changes thus ensue in the coloration of this species 

 during development. 



God. — A tessellated example occurred on the 15th of June in the Bay ; 

 while on the 10th August another li inch was secured in the ground- 

 trawl 15 miles south-east of the Isle of May. Four parasitic Chalimi 

 (young of Caligus) were attached to it. 



Green Cod. — Several young forms were met with in July. Thus two 

 occurred on the 11th and four on the 16th, ranging from ±% to f inch ; 

 while on the 20th another 19 mm. long was captured. 



The post-larval gadoids made their first appearance on the 30th April, 

 and ranged from J to ^ inch, and they continued to be captured at intervals 

 till the 20th of July. They were most plentiful during May and the first 

 fortnight of June. Thus on the 18th of May 31 occurred near the month 

 of the Eden, their size ranging from J to J of an inch ; and on the 1st 

 June 18 were caught in the haul, their size being from 24 to 7*5 mm. 

 (from about an inch down to ^), the permanent rays just appearing in the 

 caudal region of the youngest. 



In the smallest form just mentioned, viz., about \ of an inch, the 

 marginal fin is quite continuous, commencing ventrally behind the anus, and 

 passing round the tail to a point on the dorsum a little in front of a vertical 

 line from the vent, though in front of this a membranous margin projects 

 a short distance, indicating probably a further extension of the fin. Fine 

 embryonic rays are present throughout, except in the caudal region, where 

 slight linear thickenings dorsally and ventrally indicate the commence- 

 ment of the permanent rays. The pectorals are large — with a chinneroid 

 base and a fan-like membrane with embryonic rays. No trace of ventrals 

 is present. The mandible when closed is bent upward at a little more 

 than a right angle to the body, and the angle of the jaw is very prominent. 

 The eye often shows a notch dorsally, and a well-marked choroidal fissure 

 inferiorly. A little black pigment exists on the snout and top of the head, 

 and along each side of the dorsal and ventral marginal fin ; while a streak 

 also occurs in the middle line laterally in front of the tail. The same 

 pigment appears in touches on the prominent edges of the mandible and 

 along the ventral surface of the abdomen. 



In the next stage (8 mm.) thickenings occur at the base of the embryonic 

 fin at the points where the two posterior dorsal (2nd and 3rd) and the 

 two anal fins arise. Two minute ventral papillae indicate the ventral 

 fins. The body and tail have considerably increased in bulk, though the 

 head and anterior region still remain of great proportional size. The eyes 

 at this stage are large, of a bluish silvery hue, and with a dark arch of 

 pigment superiorly. The abdomen has a slightly pinkish hue from the 



