480 MR. F. BALFOUR BROWNE ON THE EARLY STAGES IN THE 
very unlike the mature fish. The eyes show a little pigment 
and a few black chromatophores are scattered over the body 
chiefly in the dorsal region of the gut and on the head. 
Immediately after hatching, the larvae take up a perpendicular 
position upon a leaf or stem of a water plant, and lie quite 
motionless with the head upwards as if holding on by means 
of a sucker under the chin. This period of rest in every case 
PLATE 1. 
lasted about 9 days. If disturbed during this period, the 
larvae showed great momentary activity, darting rapidly 
about and then taking up a similar resting position on some 
other leaf. About the 9th or 10th day the little fish com- 
menced an active and voracious existence. They were 
always to be seen poised in the water in a horizontal position, 
their pectoral fins beating vigorously and their tails quivering 
