192 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
the yolk sac. The larva floats in an inverted position, tail inclined upward, every 
little while making short wriggling dashes, which bring it momentarily into what is 
to be its normal position after the yolk sac is absorbed. The three bars on the tail 
and the patch on the dorsal fin fold are the most conspicuous markings to the 
unaided eye. 
On the second day after hatching the posterior caudal band loses its gold 
pigment and all the markings are less conspicuous. The yolk sac is considerably 
reduced, but little growth in length occurs. The pectorals are faintly visible. On 
the third day the yolk sac is still further reduced, and the bands, especially the 
anterior ones, are becoming faint. On the fourth day only traces of the caudal 
bands are visible, and a row of black ckromatophores appears along the ventral 
surface posterior to the vent, extending to the location of the middle band. The 
blotch in the dorsal fin fold is still conspicuous; the eye is pigmented; pectorals are 
pigmented with black and gold chromatophores ; mouth is open and functioning; 
abdomen with a golden tinge, and yolk sac is almost completely absorbed. On the 
fifth day the normal position when at rest is floating head downward, but the fry 
are very quick in action when disturbed. To the unaided eye the color effect is 
that of a dark brown head and body as far as vent; tail transparent. Growth in 
length up to this time is negligible. On the sixth day the eye shows a steel-blue 
luster. No trace of rudimentary fins is visible. By the seventh day a few fry 
attain a length of 2.8 mm., but all are becoming weak, none surviving until the 
eighth day after hatching. Figures 50 to 53 illustrate the larval growth of this 
species. 
The later larval and early post-larval stages are not known, the smallest 
examples that have been taken being about 2.5 cm. (1 inch) in length. 
Young fish between 3 and 4 cm. (1| and 1J inches) in length (fig. 54) already 
strongly resemble the adult (fig. 55), but the head and eyes are larger, the body 
deeper, and the soft dorsal and anal fins much higher; the third dorsal spine is not 
produced, and the lower lobe of the caudal is much more prolonged than in the 
adult. The color varies greatly both in pattern and intensity, ranging from the 
characteristic markings of the adult to an almost uniform blackish brown. Certain 
markings that appear to be constant in preserved specimens are as follows: Mem- 
brane of spinous dorsal dusky, posterior portion edged with lighter; soft dorsal and 
anal blackish at base, or with a dark band near base, rest of fin hyaline; caudal 
hyaline, with one or two irregular dark blotches at base; pectoral hyaline, its axil 
blackish; ventrals brownish or blackish, the rays and outer margin white. Scales 
are present and well developed in examples 3 cm. (1| inches) in length. 
The growth of Menticirrhus saxatilis the first summer is exceedingly rapid. 
Measurements of a large number of young taken at Woods Hole, Mass., during July 
and August in various years show that fish hatched early in June may attain a 
length of 2 cm. (f inch) by July 1, 8 cm. (3£inches) by August 1, and over 15 cm. 
(5| inches) by September 1, but this is a maximum, and the modal length of fish 
hatched in late June and early July is about 5 cm. (2 inches) for August 1 and 10 cm. 
(4 inches) for September 1. These observations are confirmed by measurement of 
smaller samples of fish from more southern points. A lot of 21 fish taken at Cape 
