10 
Transactions of the Boyal Society of South Africa. 
Species VIII (Clupea sp. ?). 
From the end of September to the beginning of November appears to 
be the period during which these fish spawn in Table Bay, but their eggs 
were taken in no great number, the largest single haul being twelve. The 
diameters of the eggs vary from 1*45 to 1*35 mm., the mean being 1*39 mm. 
The yolk is vesiculated and they contain no oil-globule. A few faint 
branching spots about the head and body are the only signs of pigmentation. 
The larva is in length about 5'1 mm. and has a hyaline appearance, the 
yolk is faintly vesiculated and the notochord is unicolumnar. A few faint 
branching pigment-spots are scattered about the head and body and the 
rectum is situated a little in advance of the posterior fifth of the animal. 
This egg and larva are apparently identical with those described as 
Species VIII (' Mar. Inv.,' vol. ii, p. 199), though both are decidedly larger. 
They bear a remarkable resemblance to those of the European Sprat (Clupea 
sprattus), though no such fish is known to occur in South African waters. 
Species XVIII. (PI. I, figs. 23, 24.) 
The spawning period of these fish is from September to January, 
but the eggs are most abundant during October. The diameters of the eggs 
vary very slightly, the maximum being '79 and the minimum '72 mm. 
They are without oil-globules ; a faint yellow tinge suffuses the embryo 
and the yolk appears as faintly vesiculated near its margin. 
On hatching the larva is readily distinguishable on account of the com- 
paratively large size of the yolk-sac, which extends from a little in front of 
the snout (about "066 mm.) to four-fifths the length of the body. 
On the yolk are some clear round markings and lines and a few pale 
yellow spots. Over the body, chiefly in the dorsal region, are many black 
dots, and over head, body and fins numerous yellow spots. The notochord 
is unicolumnar and the rectum at first posterior, but the animal rapidly 
changes in form, the posterior portion seeming to grow the most rapidly, 
with the result that in twenty-four hours the rectum is almost in a median 
position. The chromatophores, which are at first closed, commence to open 
before the end of the first day, and have covered a great portion of the body, 
fins and yolk with a network of yellow and black branchings before the end 
of the second day ; on the second day also the pectoral fins show signs of 
development. On the fourth day the formation of the mouth commences, 
and it is quite open on the seventh, when the yolk is absorbed and most of 
the pigment has disappeared from the fins. It was noticed that the larvae 
on the last day appeared to be endeavouring to obtain food at the bottom 
of the jar, their jaws moving actively, while they assumed a vertical position 
head downwards. This seems to be the same egg and larva described as 
Species XVIII in 'Mar. Inv,,' vol. iii, p. 143, though the peculiar early stage 
with its large yolk was not noted. 
