132 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



to the third type, or vertebrate eye ; for although, as a rule, the 

 higher forms of life are characterized by having two highly- 

 developed eyes placed in the head, it has been shown that a third 

 eye, not so elaborately formed as its companions, exists in certain 

 animals — notably in the New Zealand lizard (Hatteria) — but, as it 

 is covered by skin, it is not functional. Knowledge of the general 

 structure of the vertebrate eye being assumed, Professor Spencer 

 dealt with an extremely interesting portion of the subject — that 

 associated with forms living in the deepest abysses of the ocean. 

 Here, where sunlight never penetrates, some fish possess eyes 

 and some do not — the latter having eye-like structures covered 

 over by a scale. Those possessing eyes, however, are furnished 

 with phosphorescent organs, which enable them to flash out light 

 at intervals, and so dispel the gloom which surrounds them. 

 The most remarkable example brought forward was that of 

 Ceratius bispinosus, which has a leaf-like structure projecting 

 between and in front of the eyes. This modification functions 

 as a bait, and any other fish preying upon it is usually swallowed 

 by the owner. A phosphorescent organ placed near it renders it 

 clearly visible to any fish interested. The lecturette was illus- 

 trated by slides prepared by Professor Spencer and exhibited by 

 Mr. J. Searle, who was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his 

 display. 



Messrs. E. Anderson and J. Strickland contributed to the 

 discussion which followed, the former adding his testimony to 

 that of Professor Spencer as regards " sight" amongst butteiflies. 



A second contribution to the evening's programme was by Mr. 

 T. Steel, F.C.S., who read a few " Remarks on Some Zoological 

 Gardens." During a late trip to Europe and America, Mr. Steel 

 visited the principal zoological collections. In the London 

 collection the arrangements of the insect-house claimed appre- 

 ciative attention. Here the living insects are in glass cases, in 

 which are placed earth, &c, and the plants on which the larvae 

 feed. Beautiful butterflies and moths, both British and foreign, 

 many of which are the produce of successive generations bred in 

 the cases, are under prominent notice ; whilst above each case is 

 a smaller one in which are placed preserved specimens of the 

 insects in the main cases, all the stages from the egg to the 

 perfect insect being represented. Mr. Steel expressed the hope 

 that an exhibit of this nature might soon be found in our Mel- 

 bourne collection. In his visit to the bird section, Mr. Steel met 

 with the " most characteristic Australian thing he had seen since 

 leaving this country." It was the Laughing Jackass. The 

 collections in America as a whole did not please him, that of 

 New York being particularly disappointing. A good word, how- 

 ever, was given to the Philadelphia!! collection, which contains 

 splendid specimens of the Bison, Elk, Prairie Dog, and Sea 



