87 
REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCI AENID AE 
between spines and soft rays. However, the rays in the anterior part of the dorsal, 
which will form spines, are shorter than the others. The color in spirits remains 
dark brown. The anterior part of the abdomen is dusky and the dark spot on the 
ventral outline of the tail, described in smaller specimens, is situated immediately 
behind the base of the anal. The inner surface of the base of the pectorals remains 
black, as in the smaller larvae (fig. 29). 
The very deep compressed body, moderately large oblique mouth, the black 
spot behind the base of the anal, and the black inner surface of the base of the 
pectorals are the principal recognition marks. 
Specimen 7 millimeters long . — The head and trunk remain deep and compressed, 
as in smaller specimens. The tail has become deeper, causing the fish to appear 
more shapely. It has decreased still further in proportionate length, the distance 
from the vent to the base of the caudal fin being contained in the total length without 
the caudal fin 3.8 times, and the greatest depth of the body is contained 2.35 times 
in the length. The mouth remains strongly oblique, the gape anteriorly being 
about on a level with the middle of the eye, and the maxillary reaches slightly beyond 
the middle of the orbit. The fins remain about as in the 4.5-millimeter fish already 
described, except that some of the anterior rays of the dorsal and the first one of 
the anal now resemble spines somewhat. The caudal fin is quite fully developed, 
but the exact shape cannot be determined as it is frayed at the tip in the single 
specimen of this size at hand. However, it very probably is pointed, as indicated 
in the accompanying illustration. The pectoral fins are long and reach the origin 
of the anal. Many black chromatophores are now present, as shown in figure 30. 
The characteristic black spot just posterior to the base of the anal, present in all the 
smaller specimens examined, persists. The inner surface of the base of the pectoral 
remains black, and the base of the ventral is dusky (fig. 30). 
Specimens 9 to 10.5 millimeters long . — The body has become somewhat deeper, 
its greatest depth being contained about 1.9 times in the length. The dorsal outline 
is much more strongly curved than the ventral one. It ascends sharply anteriorly 
and descends strongly posterior to the origin of the dorsal. The mouth has become 
less strongly oblique, as the gape anteriorly is only a little above the lower margin 
of the eye. The spines and soft rays in the vertical fins are fully differentiated. The 
first dorsal consists of 10 spines, the second one (which is scarcely separated from the 
first one) has 1 spine and 26 or 27 soft rays, and the anal has 2 spines and 6 soft rays. 
The caudal fin is nearly as long as the head and is pointed. The ventral fins reach 
57094—34 4 
