G. GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY AND ZOOLOGY. 307 



of the spectroscopic character of the coloring matter of eggs 

 ill determining their species, or even their genera, especially 

 in view of the fact that in some eggs, as in the Gnillemot, 

 the variation in the series is so great, sometimes one tint 

 prevailing exclusively, and in others several, or possibly all 

 of them, combined. He concludes by stating, as a summary 

 of his inquiries, that he considers the chief points to be that 

 all the varied tints of birds' eggs are due to mixtures of a 

 limited number of coloring matters having well-marked spe- 

 cific characters. Except in one particular case there is ap- 

 parently no intimate connection between the organization of 

 the birds and the coloring matters secreted; but if further 

 inquiry should prove that on the whole these substances are 

 formed naturally only during the development of the eggs 

 of birds, it would be an important fact in relation to com- 

 parative physiology and chromatology, as showing that spe- 

 cial colored substances are secreted under special anatomical 

 and physiological conditions, as does indeed occur in the case 

 of many other normal and abnormal secretions. Proceedings 

 of the Zoological Society^ London^ IS'ZS, 351. 



ON THE MANAGEMENT OF AQUAKIA. 



A valuable paper on the construction, management, and 

 utility of aquaria, by Mr. W. Saville Kent, has been pub- 

 lished in the Journal of the Society of Arts, in which the 

 latest views in reference to the best mode of manaixins: the 

 water are brought forth. Here, as in previous communica- 

 tions, Mr. Kent insists upon the propriety of using the same 

 water over and over again, especially for fresh-water tanks, 

 urging that the perfection of the water by the deposit of all 

 its sedimentry particles, and its more thorough combination 

 with air and its oxygen, is better effected than by allowing 

 a continued stream of freshly pumped sea-water or fresh 

 water from springs. 23 A^ March 3, 292. 



PECUNIARY SUCCESS OF THE BRIGHTON AQUARIUM. 



The pecuniary success of well-managed public aquaria is 

 shown by the report of the Brighton Aquarium Company. 

 In this it is stated that the sum of 12,310 \\s. Id. is availa- 

 ble on dividend account. A dividend at the rate often per 

 cent, per annum was paid in July last, and a second dividend 



