122 SELECTED NOTES FROM SOCIETY'S NOTE-BOOKS. 



(A. lanceolatiis ) differs from other fishes of the present day, and 

 may, perhaps, be regarded as a reUc of some ancient order of 

 fishes now all but extinct ; which, from the softness of their 

 skeleton, have left no fossil traces of their existence. 



J. H. Green. 



Spine of Dog-Fish. — This fish belongs to the family, Scylliidce, 

 and is peculiar in having a sharp spine for defence or attack in 

 front of each of its dorsal fins. While the fish is contained in the 

 mother, she is protected from injury by the spines of the young, 

 by a knob of cartilage, secured by small cartilaginous straps to the 

 point of each spine. This protection is detached at birth. A 

 drawing and further description of this spine will be found in Vol. 

 I. of this Journal, p. 38, PI. III. 



C. P. Coombs. 



Marine Aquarium.— To those interested I may mention that I 

 have had eight sea-anemones, and one or two other live specimens, 

 such as crabs, etc., which I have kept in a small quantity of sea- 

 water, with sand, shingle, and shells to form a bottom, for upwards 

 of a month, and the water is still perfectly clear, and three young 

 anemones have been born since I captured the old ones. Al- 

 though it is only such a small affair (about a quart), it affords a 

 considerable amount of pleasure and instruction. If the 

 water is disturbed (by wind, for instance), the anemones unfold 

 their beautiful tentaculse, and when in the sun are indeed a beauti- 

 ful sight. 



E. LOVETT. 



Varnish for ''Ringing" Slides.— Evaporate Canada Balsam 

 (old is best) by gentle heat until, when allowed to get cold, it sets 

 hard ; then dissolve it in as much Benzole as will allow it to flow 

 freely from the brush. This transparent and perfectly smooth 

 varnish looks better in my idea than any coloured rings. 



Edwin Smith. 



