29 



to an arrow-head Tvith its point bent to one side, and the barb on the 

 left side at the base broken oiT. It is beautifully denticulated near 

 the end, the lower side particularly so, but the upper or outer portion is 

 the most remarkable, the bone there is flattened in a very singular way, 

 so that the specimen might almost be taken for a carving in ivoiy rubbed 

 down for thinness. 



Passing to another genus of the same family will be noticed 

 the otoliths of the rockling {Motella vulgaris) a fish of essentially 

 different habits to the last, fretjuenting as it does, still waters 

 with rocky surroundings ; a curious looking object, having, not only 

 filinients from the lower jaw like the cod, but several additional ones 

 standing out from the upper one. The otolith is long, narrow, slightly 

 twisted, and almost devoid of interest. It is figured for the sake of 

 contrast only. 



The tribe of Ahdominales, so named from the position of one of the 

 fins, comprises with us three families of fishes, familiar instances of which 

 are the herring, salmon, and flying-fish, the latter only an occasional 

 visitor. In this group the position of the otolith is reversed, the pointed 

 end being in front. 



The herring tribe it is well known travel in company in vast niirabers, 

 individual shoals being of the same age Eeasoning upon evolution 

 principles, specimens of creatures so acting, would not require their 

 faculties so keenly strung as though tbey had to gain each one its own 

 separate livelihood ; for the survival of the fittest means, also the 

 degradation of those least able to bear the vicissitudes of life, and disused 

 members it is said become abortive. The unwanted ears should then 

 become smaller and smaller until lost altogether. The experiment then 

 was interesting to obtain otoliths bearing on the subject. Certainly they 

 favour the theory in some degree. 



The ear-bone of the herring is unusually small, flat on the inner side 

 but slightly convex on the exterior, shaped like the extinct hamite, a 

 hook bent upon itself with the outer edge distinctly toothed, and only 

 one-fifth the length of that of a haddock of the same size. 



As the same argument is applicable to the mackerel, we may consider 

 that fish now, although belonging to another tribe altogether, in it the 

 bone is reversed in position to that of the herring. This is relatively the 

 smallest -otolith of all, being narrower, thinner, and more delicate. Much 

 the same shape it is true, but bent, and with the projecting pointed end 

 more produced. They are difficult to extract without breaking. 



Last vsdnter some sardines were forwarded me direct from the South 

 of France, and I was able to compare them A\'ith theii" more humble 

 relative, the British sprat. The conclusion I came to was inevitable. 

 Only those who have never seen the fishes could have ever thought them 

 identical. ]^ot only is the sardine a much wider fish across the back, 

 but it has a longer snout, larger skull, and quite different otolith. 

 A miniature herring in fact, and its ear-bones, show these fishes to be 



