Page:Midland naturalist (IA midlandnaturalis01lond).pdf/204

Cheltenham Natural Science Society,—March 2ist, 1878— Dr. T. Wright, M.D., F.R.S.E., President, in the chair—F. Day, Esq., F.L.S., F.Z.S. &c., delivered an address on "Freshwater Fishes." He entered into the various questions—What is a fish? Hos does it live, move, and continue its line? Where do we find the first traces in the globe we inhabit? The importance of tracing out geological distributions and, lastly, bow fish have influenced human manners, customs, and commerce? By diagrams he explained the main divisions of the animal kingdom, and allowed the several classifications that had been made from time to tine, stating that the latest, dividing them into three, viz., Mammalia, Sunropsida, and Iehthyopsida, appeared to be the least objectionable. He gave a very interesting account of some recent experiments made with the Salamander to prove that, though now it is normally born an air breather, it can he converted back again into what seems to have been its original form——one of the Amphibia having gills. He described the exterior skeleton of various fishes, their mode of progressing through the water by their fins, and how very strangely in sone forms these become modified. He next took the scaleless forms, which he described. He then referred to the interior structure of fishes, noting the swim-bladder in its two distinct forms, both of which, by aid of specimens, be fully explained: then to the respiratory organs, giving the result of experiments that had been made I prove that some could not exist without air, particularly the Walking Fish, (Ophiocephalidæ,) and the length of time others could remain out of the water. He next reviewed the breeding of fishes. He exhibited some eggs taken from the month of male fishes. He referred to the fact that some species of frogs also carry the eggs in their mouths or pouches, net only until the young are hatched, but are old enough to take care of themselves; and as many as fifteen little tadpoles have been found in the pouch of the Rhinuderma Darwinii. eclosed his remarks on this part by reference to the inter-breeding of fish, particularly amongst Carp and Herrings, and the differences that existed in such hybrids, adding that this fast deserved very attentive consideration, as new forms way be thus brought into existence, or that sore of our genera do not deserve such a name, in fact may be but varieties, farther remarking that if fishes of two genera can inter-breed, and the offspring is not barren, but can again inter-breed with one of the parents, he could scarcely imagine but that such a proceeding would rapidly efface the distinctive marks. He next took some of the senses, omitting hearing, sight, smell, and taste. He showed how fish have feelings and emotions, quoting observations of Dr. Cantor on the Fighting Fish of Siam, (Macropodus puguan,) and the case of our own little Stickleback. He then referred to the geological features of his paper, and how there was a time when fish apparently did not exist. He showed that their distribution, and the appearance of the same species at distant places, were matters that would much interest the Geologist, and would tend to prove upheaval of parts of the Earth's crust. He concluded a very able and interesting paper by touching on the part fish may have played in early days in developing commerce, and furthering religious institutions particularly in India and Egypt, and how in later days it became a Christian emblem. Major Barnard, Rev. W. Symonds, and others joined in the debate on the paper, to all of whom Mr. Day replied. The Rev. W. Symmons also asked if the president would not give a paper on Fossil Fishes at some future day, This he agreed to do, and, after a cordial vote of thanks to Mr. F. Day for the paper, the proceedings terminated. April 18th.—Dr. T. Wright, M.D, F.R.S.E., in the chair. Auditors were re-elected, and F.D. Longe, Esq., F.G.S., read a paper on "The Relation of the Crust to the Interior of the Earth," a resumé of which will appear in a future number of the "Midland Naturalist."

Derbyshire Naturalists' Society.—May 7th.—The Rev. W.H. Painter read a paper on "Fossil and Recent Cephalopoda." The species more frequently met with upon the coasts of England, the Cuttlefish, (Sepia officinalis,) the Squid, (Loligo vulgaris) and the Poulpe, (Octopus vulgaris,) having been alluded to, with their weapons of defence and offence, Mr. Painter described the arms and suckers of Onychntenthis Bartlingii found in the West Indies, and compared them with those belonging to English species. The Cephalapods are divided by Prof. Owen into two orders, founded on the gills, (branchæ)—Dibranchiata, and Tetrabranchiata, the latter of which comes first in geological time. Several genera were mentioned as occurring in the Cambrian Period, and specimens were exhibited of Phragmucerus ventricosum, Orthoceras