INTRODUCTION. 11 



stantly cliangecl from their bright golden orange 

 color, to a pale transparent yellow ; they were 

 then placed in running water with the vessel 

 containing them. 



On the 9th of January one of the eggs was 

 placed under one of Dr. Goadby's microscoj^es. 

 (The Dr. was at the time giving a course of 

 lectures in this city.) Its appearance delighted 

 the company of scientific gentlemen present, as 

 well as myself. The egg was filled with a 

 countless number of cells, of different sizes, 

 with traces of blood vessels ; the eyes also 

 being jjercej^tible. 



On the 22d of January we examined them 

 again, and to our joy, we found a young fish, 

 which had just left its narrow place of con- 

 finement, to try its new mode of existence ; it 

 was very lively in its motions, but could not 

 be considered an expert swimmer, owing to an 

 appendage to its abdomen, of nearly the size 

 of the egg, which in fact it was, and contained 

 the material for the further development of the 

 yet very imperfect fish ; this sack was filled 

 with a multitude of minute cells, whose ab- 

 sorption keeps pace with the development of 

 the fish. When the young fish leaves its egg, 

 it measures about half an inch in length. The 

 heart, with the principal blood vessels, and even 



