MUSEUMS. 17 



They are intorestin<^ from their habit of spending a great deal of their 

 time out of the water on the edge of the sea-sliore in their natural state, 

 and on the sides of the tank in captivity. Their peculiar prominent 

 eyes, which are fitted to see better out of water than in ir, at once attract 

 attention. The Electric Cat-fish *{Malapterurus eleclricus). This most 

 interesting species was brought over, at the cost of much care and trouble 

 by Mr. Ridyard, from the Gaboon River in West Africa, his first 

 consignment, arriving in the month of April. All his imports have 

 thriven remarkably well, taking to their new home without any apparent 

 ill-effects. The tanks in which they are confined are kept as uniformly 

 as possible at a temperature of about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They seem 

 to be able, however, to stand, without apparent injury, a considerable 

 variation in the temperature of the water above and below that point. 

 They feed remarkably well on worms, small fishes, and pieces of boiled 

 liver, A specimen, by permission of the Committee — their courtesy being 

 acknowledged by the Council of that Society — was exhibited by Professor 

 Gotch, F.R.S. and the Director at the Conversazione of the Royal 

 Society in London, on the evening of the lat May. Several hundred of the 

 guests, including T.E.H. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg, The Duke of Teck, 

 and Prince Alfred of Ccburg, and many physiological and electrical 

 authorities, received shocks singly or in parties. These shocks were delivered 

 by the fish with little cessation during nearly four hours, without its 

 exhibiting any marked symptoms of fatigue. By permission of the 

 Committee a specimen was also shown by the Director at two 

 Conversaziones of the British Association at Ipswich, where it attracted 

 much attention by giving discbarges for many hours to hundreds of 

 persons as powerfully at the close as at the beginning of the evening. 

 African Mud-fish *(^Protop terns aiinectans). These fishes have now been 

 living for nearly two years in the Aquarium, and are still in a very 

 healthy condition. At one of the Conversaziones of the British Association 

 at Ipswich, two specimens were, by permission of the Committee, 

 exhibited and successfully liberated from the dry mud-balls in which 

 they had been imported, and were then encased, in a dormant condition. 

 On the clay-balls being dissolved down in tepid water, the fishes emerged 

 in a very lively condition to the great interest of a large audience. 

 Fresh Water or Rock Bass *{Centrarchus aeneus) ; Common Poud or 

 American Sun-fish *{romotis vulgaris) ; Spotted Gunnel or Butter-fisb 



