NO. 1861 Till' ARCIIUR-l'lSIi AND ITS FKATS GIUv 285 



jaculator, reach a niaxinuini of nearly ten inches, and Day obtained 

 specimens of Toxotcs cJiatarcus over a foot long. 



Fig. 60. — Archer-fish. (After Bleeker.) 



X 



This summary is a true version of the article by Zolotnitsky and 

 will doubtless excite skepticism among physiologists at large as well 

 as psychologists. It contravenes certain assumptions respecting the 

 power and range of vision among fishes, as well as of the intelligence 

 and reasoning powers of s.uch lowly -animals. The extent of ex- 

 pression assigned to eyes destitute of mobile surroundings and ac- 

 commodative adjustments may also be deemed to be exaggerated. 

 Distinction therefore must be exercised between the facts observed 

 (or alleged to have been observed) and the inferences respecting 

 such facts. It must be conceded, however, that fishes which mani- 

 fest such peculiar action as the Archers should be subjects for still 

 more elaborate observations and experiments, and it appears that 

 they are neither very difficult to procure nor hard to keep. 



While Zolotnitsky's account of the Archer-fish is more complete 

 and graphic than any other, it is not the only one, nor the first. As 

 long ago as 1899, two articles appeared in the popular periodical 

 named Natur und Haus,^ published in Berlin, and it is probable that 

 other observations have been made known later. As, however, the 



' The following articles are known to the writer : 



NiTsCHE (Paul). Der Scluitzenfische (Toxofes jaculator), in Nat. und 

 Hans, vni, 1899, PP- 22-25. 



LampErT (K.). Der Schiitzenfische. Nat. und Haus. viii, 1899, pp. 43, 44. 



