16 
admirable paper by Holt. It appears from Fulton’s observations, 
however, that a large proportion of females is likewise found among 
the dragonets. 
My notes on the subject of the relative numbers of each sex are 
as yet too fragmentary to be beyond reproach, but they are on the 
whole confirmatory of those made some years ago by Dr. Fulton. 
At the time that they were made in my case, it might be supposed 
that, as spawning as a rule was not taking place then, a redistribu- 
tion of the sexes would occur. This is not at all likely, however, 
and besides, the greatest disproportion was shewn in the case of the 
dab and gurnard, which spawn to some extent in-shore, and during 
part of the time in which the observations were made. 
It is quite surprising, when we consider the conspicuous polygamy 
amongst our common and most valuable fishes, and the large 
number of floating ova which the females shed, that an unfertilized 
egg is a rarity we are more likely to hear about than to see. A 
detailed examination of a large number of forms at different times 
of the year would yield very interesting comparative figures, which 
would tend to help in explaining the condition. 
The fish found in an abnormal condition included several diseased 
forms, but as usual a large number of the flat fishes were observed 
pigmented more or less on the blind side. The fact that this is 
usually altogether without symmetry goes to shew that it is the 
result of irritation, and not a persistent larval colouration. 
A flounder got at Skate Roads at the first excursion w^as spotted 
all over on the 'white side, and including the fins, with small brown 
spots, scattered in quite an asymmetrical manner. Pigment is exceed- 
ingly common on the blind side of turbot and brill caught here and 
elsewhere. Plaice are got at almost every catch with isolated spots 
of brown pigment. At Blyth Bay, for example, one plaice showed 
this colouration on the blind side in the form of irregular blotches 
of a golden yellowish brown hue. There was not the least approach 
to symmetry in this and many other specimens presenting more or 
less of blotches or spots on the blind side. A flounder was observed 
on that day likewise with three spots, all on the ventral aspect of 
the blind side, and another with one spot near the middle line. 
The other specimens got in the trawl and tow nets I do not 
propose to enumerate here. They will in due course be entered in 
the lists we are preparing of the occurrence and distribution of 
species. 
