269 



tlie eggs are carried during the whole period of development in 

 the month. Dui'ing the month of June, the females have their 

 mouths filled with eggs, and tiie young may he seen in all stages 

 of formation, if a large number of individuals is examined. 

 There are at least four species of Siluroids which have this 

 liuhit. 



The Aspredos, or " trompettis," likewise have a peculiar mode 

 of gestation, analogous to that found in Syngnathus. In Aspredo 

 the eggs are attached, by means of pedicles surmounted by 

 cups, to the under side of the abdomen, as far forwards some- 

 times as the mouth, on the sides to the pectoral and ventral 

 fins which they sometimes cover, and as far back as the mid- 

 dle of the tail. Valenciennes describes the appendages which 

 support the eggs of Trompetti, but nowhere expresses the opinion 

 that they were destined to carry eggs. After the eggs are 

 hatched the pedicles are absorbed. 



A specimen of Hylodes lineatus w^as also exhibited, showing 

 the manner in which the young are carried upon the back of the 

 parent. In Hylodes, we have one extreme of a series which 

 commences with Pipa, where each egg is carried in a separate 

 pouch in the back of the fiemale ; in Notodelphis, as shown by 

 Dr. Weinland, all the eggs are carried in one dorsal pouch ; in 

 Alytes, the eggs in strings are wound round the legs, and finally^ 

 in Hylodes, the tadpoles adhere to the back of the parent without 

 any protection. Though having all the organization of a tadpole, 

 viz : gills and a tail adapted to swimming, they are found in the 

 woods on the back of the parent at a distance from water. The 

 early stages of development are unknown. 



The habits of Hylodes, as well as those of the fishes above 

 referred to, are well known to the negroes of Guiana. 



DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM. 



July 1, 1857. Nest and Eggs of Baltimore Oriole, Yphantes Baltimore; Bobo- 

 link, Dolkhmiyx m-izivorus : Maryland Yellow-throat, Trichas Marilmidicus ; Bam 

 Swallow, Hirundo rustica; Cedar Bird, Amjielis c/arrulus; Lesser Pewit Fly- 

 catcher, Muscicapa fusca ; Wilson's Thrush, Twdus fuscescens ; Blue Jay, Cy- 



