“AT 
£<O 
Part L1T.—Twenty-fourth Annual Report 
Fam. MurRa2NIDz. 
Genus Anguilla. 
Anguilla vulgaris, Leach. The Eel. Pl. i. B., figs. 67-69; pl. v., fig. 25. 
The largest specimen of the eels whose earstones are represented here 
measured about 24 inches in length, and the other two 16 inches and 12} 
inches respectively ; their earstones are very small, those from the 
largest fish are only about 35mm. long by 2mm. in depth. Those 
belonging to the fish next in size (16 inches) measured fully 2°>5mm. by 
1.7mm., while those of the smallest specimen (124 inches) measured 2mm. 
by 1.5mm. The earstones of the largest of the three fishes are only 
about one-seventieth part of the entire length of the fish; they are thus 
smaller in proportion to the length of the fish than most of the others 
described here. 
Genus Conger. 
Conger niger, Risso. The Conger. Pl. 1 B., fig. 66; pl. iv., fig. 14; pl. 
a ee 
Among the earstones represented here are those of two specimens of 
conger —one 284 inches in length, the other 54 inches. The first are 
represented by fig. 66, pl. i. B., an enlarged photograph of which is shown 
by fig. 14, pl. iv.; while those of the larger fish are represented by fig. 7, 
pl. v. The smaller earstones are nearly 9mm. long by about 35mm. 
in depth, but the length of the larger specimens was 11‘5mm.; they are 
thus equal to about the one hundred and twenty-third part of the entire 
length of the fish. The earstones of the smaller fish are moderately thin 
and of a narrow oval outline, being widest near the middle and with one 
end narrowly rounded and the other narrow and angular. Those of the 
larger fish are tolerably massive, the sides are nearly parallel but some- 
what sinuous in outline, and the ends, like those of the smaller fish, are 
one of them bluntly rounded, while the other is angular. The surface of 
the earstones does not appear to be ornamented with any regular 
markings except one or two shallow longitudinal ridges. 
Fam. SYNGNATHIDZ. 
Genus Werophis. 
Nerophis lumbriciformis, Will. The Worm Pipe-fish. 
The earstones of a specimen of this pipe-fish have been in my collection 
for many years (since March 19, 1885—the date when the fish was cap- 
tured at Lunderston Bay, Firth of Clyde). They are so exceedingly 
small that they have not been photographed with the others represented 
here. They are compressed, and resemble circular disks, except that one 
end is slightly notched, the notch being a little on one side of the middle 
line. They are somewhat like certain small Foraminifera, such, for 
example, as Biloculina depressa, but more diminutive. Their true form 
can only be made out satisfactorily under the microscope, with a l-inch 
objective. They measure across their longest diameter about *26mm. 
(about z/; of an inch), while their shortest diameter is about ‘19mm. The 
earstones of these fishes are so exceedingly small that they are easily 
overlooked, 
