Art VI.] Hekrick, Tastc in Fishes. 6g 



fore. In all cases I got a typical "gustatory" reaction exactly 

 the same as with the meat, and this reaction persisted after many 

 trials with no diminution. The cotton was taken instantly into 

 the mouth and tugged vigorously. No amount of training 

 served to eradicate or to weaken this reflex. 



I next prepared a small bulb syringe, with the delivery 

 tube drawn out to a very fine point. This was filled with the 

 water in which the fishes were and a fine jet directed against 

 their bodies. They either paid no attention or were distu'^bed 

 and swam away. I now substituted for the water in the syringe 

 the juice of raw beef pressed out and strained. When a jet of 

 this fluid was directed against th.e side of the body, the fish al- 

 ways instantly turned and tried to take the end of the syringe. 

 The reaction was identical with th.it produced when a corre- 

 sponding part of the body is touched with raw meat. I invari- 

 ably got the reaction both from the sides of the body as far 

 back as the root of the tail fin and from the skin of the head 

 and barblets. 



I also tested the fishes with bits of red brick held in for- 

 ceps. The forceps seemed to frighten the fishes. They either 

 paid no attention to the contact with the brick (when touched 

 in such a way that they could not see the point of contact), or 

 else the harsh contact seemed to frighten them. I then touched 

 them on various parts of the body and the barblets with bits of 

 brick which had been soaked in raw meat juice. In most cases 

 they would turn and touch the brick with the lips or take it in- 

 to the mouth, but often they seemed frightened and would 

 swim away. I then gave them a lew bits of meat with the 

 forceps and found that they took it eagerly, being very hungry, 

 but it had to be given more cautiously than with the wire, as 

 they Were afraid of the forceps if they saw them clearly. 



Next I dropped bits of brick which had been soaked in 

 meat juice in front of the fishes as they lay under leaves with 

 the barblets projecting beyond the edges of the leaves. In 

 all such cases upon touching the brick with a barbiet they seized 

 the brick and bit at it viciously. Ofcen they would return to it a 

 second or third time and try to bite it. I dropped similar bits 



