28 



Exhibits : — 



Ml-. Oliver exhibited and desci'ibed a dissection of the Devil Fish 

 {Lophius piscatorius). It is found on the coasts of Europe, Western North 

 America, and Cape of Good Hope. Exo-skeleton — Skin naked, and coloured 

 like the bottom on which the fish is lying. It has the power of rapidly- 

 changing the colour. Processes of skin are attached along the sides of the 

 body, which looks like seaweed, and assist in concealing the fish. Endo- 

 fskeleton — Notochord constricted, vertebra central, amphicoelous, tail homocKcal; 

 skull completely ossified ; pectoral and central fins are articulated so as to 

 assist jaws in seizing food. Three spines on head are developed for anterior 

 dorsal fin. Circulatory System. — Single auricle and ventricle. Bnlbus 

 ai-teriosus is not contractile and provided with a single row of valves. 

 Respiratory System. — Gill filaments free on both sides, only attached by 

 inner ends. Gill cover (operculum) large and supported by rays ; the 

 opening being below the pectoral fin. Swimming Bladder. —Ahsent. 

 yervous System. — Cerebellum large ; optic lobes large ; cerebral hemisphere 

 small ; optic nerves cross. Eye. — Sclerotic, formed of fibrous tissue, with 

 two cartilages to strengthen it. Reproductive and Urinary Organs. — There 

 being no cloacas, the oviducts open immediately posterior to the anus. 

 The ureters from the kidneys open into a large bladder, which opens to 

 the surface close to the oviducts. Visceral Arches and Clefts. — Jaws well 

 ossified ; teeth on jaws ; palate and pharynx viliform in character ; 

 spiracles are absent. Limhs.—Uhe pectoral fins are small, and placed on 

 the ventral surface. Pelvic fins, much larger, are placed laterally, and but 

 slightly posterior to the pectoral fins. Alimentary System. — No spiral 

 valve in the intestina. No cloaca, and the pancreas is rudimentary. 

 Mouth very large ; stomach lai-ge, and very distensible ; it is said to 

 sometimes contain a fish nearly as large as the lophius itself. Pylorus small, 

 and placed close to the oesophagus. Two diverticula are present at the 

 upper part of the intestine. An interesting parasite, Lernentonia lophii, 

 was found in the pouches of this creature. 



Mr. W. Nelson exhibited a white variety of Wild Strawberry, collected 

 at SpoflForth. 



Meeting held in the Club's Eooms, 80, Municipal Buildings, July 29th, 

 1889. Professor De Burgh Birch, M.D., CM., F.E.S.E., President, in the 

 chair. 



ON THE MARINE DREDGING EXPEDITION TO SCARBOROUGH AND FILEY. 

 PROFESSOR BIRCH. 



Some little attention was first given to dredges and other apparatus 

 necessary on these excursions, as considerable experience had been derived 

 from the last, and, as it is intended to have another on September 14th, 

 the knowledge and experience obtained would go a long way to make the 

 next even more successful. Then followed a description of the several 



