PRES FAC is 
Memory IN Fisues. L. Eprncer. ‘‘Haben die Fische ein Gedachtnis?” 
Das Ergebniss einer Sammelforschung mitgetheilt in der neurologischen Sektion 
der Versammlung Deutscher Naturforscher und Aerzte in Miinchen, 1899. 
Sonderabdruck aus der Beilage zur Al/gemeinen Zeitung, Nos. 241 and 242, 
vom 21 und 25 Oktober 1899. Miinchen, 30 pp. We have been favoured 
with a copy of this interesting paper, embodying the results of observations 
which have been communicated to Prof. Edinger since he made his appeal 
for information a couple of years ago. It seems to be clear (1) that the 
instinctive impulse to flee from certain impressions may be lessened as the 
fishes find the stimulus harmless and become accustomed to it, and, contrariwise, 
that they may become shy; (2) that the optic or chemical stimulus normally 
associated with food may be replaced by the image of the feeder. There is 
therefore a kind of memory, but it is very different from that of mammals. It 
may be recalled that Prof. M‘Intosh, of St. Andrews, was one of those who 
answered the question, ‘‘ Have fishes a memory?” with a decided affirmative, 
when the matter was discussed a couple of years ago. 
More Traces oF NeEomyLopon. ErtanpD NoORDENSKIOLD. “Neue 
Untersuchungen tiber Neomylodon listai,” Zool. Anzeig. xxi. 1899, pp. 335- 
336. The author has made laborious excavations in the cave at Ultima 
Esperanza (South Patagonia), where previous digging discovered the pieces of 
skin, ete., belonging to the somewhat shadowy creature, Veomylodon listar. 
He has found a number of bones which he thinks should go with the skin. 
Their description will be awaited with interest. 
CoNcCERNING AN ANcIENT FisH. A. SmitH Woopwarp. “Note on 
Scapanorhynchus, a Cretaceous Shark apparently surviving in Japanese Seas,” 
Ann. Nat. Hist. i. 1899, pp. 487-489. A shark in all essential respects 
identical with the supposed extinct genus Scapanorhynchus has been obtained 
from the deep sea off Yokohama, and described by Profs. D. 5. Jordan and 
Mitsukuri. It has been called Witsukurina, but Mr. Smith Woodward points 
out that in all the generic characters which can be compared it agrees with the 
above-named predaceous shark of the Cretaceous Seas. 
XOLE OF THE Nucieus. Jacques Logs. ‘Warum ist die Regeneration 
kernloser Protoplasmasttiicke unmoéglich oder erschwert?” Arch. Entwickelungs- 
mechanik, viii. 1899, pp. 689-693. In this paper, which the author has been 
kind enough to send us, there is a fresh suggestion rather than a fresh fact. 
The suggestion is that the nucleus is the oxidation-organ of the living substance, 
and that non-nucleated fragments of cells are incapable of regeneration because 
the oxidation-function has sunk below the required minimum. The fragments 
gradually die of asphyxia. This should be compared with the observations of 
Schenk referred to in another part of this number of Vatural Science. 
A ContTriBUTION TO EXPERIMENTAL EmBryoLocy., Jacques Lorn. ‘Ueber 
den Einfluss von Alkalien und Sauren auf die embryonale Entwickelung und das 
Wachsthum,” Arch. ELntwickelungsmechanik, viii. 1899, pp. 631-641, 1 pl. 
Experiments on the developing larvae of the sea-urchin Arbacia show that even 
extremely minute additions of sodium hydrate solution to the sea-water hasten 
the development and growth, while acids have the reverse effect. The reason 
suggested is that weak alkalies promote the oxidation-processes and therefore the 
synthetic processes in the living substance. 
A Triassic CurrierisH. K. Picarp. ‘Ueber Cephalopoden aus dem 
unteren Muschelkalk bei Sondershausen” (Zectschr. deutsch. geol. Ges. li. 
pp. 299-309, pl. xvi. Oct. 1899) describes Campylosepia triasica, n.g. et sp. on 
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