Beproduction of Fishes in Table Bay. 
5 
1"15 to 1-05 mm., and contain a single oil-globule, the diameter of which 
varies from "23 to '21 mm. In the early stages, when the embryo is about 
half the circumference of the egg, the oil-globule is pink in colour with 
black stellate spots on it, and round it, in the yolk, are numerous yellow dots ; 
these, as the embryo develops, appear to extend on to the oil-globule and the 
pink colour changes to pale grey. Yellow pigment -cells are scattered over 
the head region, behind the otocyst, and between the oil-globule and end of 
tail, and black branching cells are dispersed about the dorsal region of the 
embryo. 
The larvae measure from 2-87 to 2'64 mm. in length. They had black 
branching spots on the dorsal region from head to about half-way between 
anus and end of tail, and on the oil-globule, which is in a posterior position. 
A mass of pigment cells are situated before and behind the eyes, and 
other masses between the rectum and the posterior end of yolk, and about 
midway between these and the end of the tail. The notochord is multi- 
columnar, the rectum anterior, and the yolk is homogeneous. 
The animals were kept alive for seven days. On the third day the length 
had increased to 3'13 mm., and the oil- globule had darkened near its margin. 
On the seventh day the coloured pigment had spread considerably, and most 
of the black cells had disappeared. The pectoral fins were then apparent, 
and the anterior portion of the yolk-sac had assumed a brownish tint. 
The egg and larva resemble so much those of the European mackerel 
(Scomber scombrus) that there is reason for believing that they belong to the 
South African S. colias. 
GrOBIIDAE. 
Gobius sp. (PI. I, fig. 8.) ■ ' 
The eggs of Gobius nudicejjs, which is common in the Cape seas, have 
already been described from specimens deposited in the tanks of the marine 
laboratory at St. James. The eggs of another species were similarly found, 
and show a striking difference. They were deposited on the glass of the 
tank and could readily be examined. They were almost spherical in shape, 
one end however being somewhat tapering. They measured "96 by "73 mm. 
They were of a bright lemon-yellow colour, identical with that of the bands 
of the dorsal fins of the parent. The smaller end was embedded in an 
adhesive mucus-like substance, which was unpigmented or of a whitish 
colour. 
Atherinidae. 
Atherina breviceps, C. & V. (PI. I, fig. 9.) 
Several hundreds of these small fish, which are known to Cape fishermen 
as Spiering " or " Spierinje," were captured in the month of January at 
