of the Fisher// Hoard for Scotland. 
303 
of a saturated solution of picric acid 1 part, methylated spirit (undiluted) 
1 part, 2 per cent, acetic acid 1 part. The oil-globule always remained 
clear, and the shrinkage was moderate. Moreover, Mr Collinge found 
that ova badly preserved may be transferred to this with advantage, 
especially where the oil-globule is indistinct. 
Ova preserved in methylated spirit 4 parts, spirit of camphor 1 part, 
2 per cent, acetic acid 4 parts, shrank considerably, but their condition 
otherwise was satisfactory. 
In Perenyi's fluid 1 part, and 50 per cent, alcohol 4 parts, the ova 
assumed a bluish tint, and shrank considerably, but the oil-globule was 
clearly visible, and the embryo and its pigment were well seen. 
When dead eggs of whiting and poor cod were simply placed in 2 per 
cent, acetic aeid they looked well for a day or two, but soon they began 
to swell, and the yolk was disintegrated. In other cases (living rockling), 
both pigment and oil-globule were preserved, but the yolk was somewhat 
collapsed. 
In 50 per cent, spirit the shrinkage was moderate, the oil-globule was 
visible for weeks, and the results fairly satisfactory. 
In equal parts of picric acid and 50 per cent, spirit, the eggs shrank 
moderately, and the embryo and its pigment were well seen. 
In picric acid 2 parts and methylated spirit 1 part, the contraction 
was considerable, and by it the oil-globule disappeared, and the yolk 
was disrupted. 
In picric acid 1 part, spirit 1 part, the shrinkage was as usual, but the 
oil-globule was visible in many, though small. 
When placed in a fluid composed of acetic acid 2 parts, spirit of cam- 
phor 1 part, the oil-globule remained very distinct, and the embryo and 
its black pigment were clearly shown. The contraction was moderate. 
If any method could be discovered whereby the colours as well as 
the tissues of the larvae could be adequately preserved,, a very great 
impulse would be given to the elucidation of the life-histories of the 
food-fishes. At present black pigment alone seems to resist the pre- 
servative fluids, and the power of rapidly making a coloured sketch, 
such as Professor Prince and Mr Holt possess, is an exceptional gift. 
In regard to the larval and post-larval fishes the observations of many 
years show that no forms are more abundant and more generally distri- 
buted than the sand-eels and clupeoids. The former are plentiful, both 
in inshore and offshore waters, the protracted spawning period giving 
larval and post-larval forms from the earlier months of the year till 
autumn. A continuous supply is thus provided for the varied wants of 
the more valuable food-fishes. The pelagic habits of the young sand-eels 
still further render them suitable for this function. The clupeoids like- 
wise are extremely abundant, often indeed, as on certain occasions in 
March, so clogging the bottom-nets that their use had to be discontinued 
for a time. Nevertheless — though two well-marked spawning periods 
occur — their importance as food for the younger fishes would not seem 
- to be much greater than that of the sand-eels. 
Larval gadoids abound in the spring months — especially in April, 
and the same may be said of the pleuronectids. The turbot and 
sole, however, are later. Young gobies, again, are very abundant in the 
bottom-nets during the warmer months, and like the young eels are to be 
found far up the estuary of the Forth in autumn. Young pipe-fishes 
abound off the estuary of the Eden. 
Larval and post-larval fishes are best killed in the usual solution of 
corrosive sublimate, well washed, and then placed in weak spirit for some 
. hours. They may be transferred by stages to strong spirit. There is, 
