160 



the earth liuniig an inundation, and obviously expelled by the 

 water penetrating to a considerable depth, and displacing the gases 

 contained in the soil, he found that this gaseous matter consists of 

 2.5 per cent, carbonic acid, 12.764 oxygen, and 84.736 nitrogen. 

 Taking this observation in conjunction with many others previously 

 made on the composition of the gaseous discharges in volcanic dis- 

 tricts, and the gaseous contents of mineral waters, he infers that a 

 process of oxidation is constantly going on at various depths below 

 the earth's surface, the oxygen for which is in all probability de- 

 rived by absorption of the atmospheric gases at the surface. 



2. An Account of a New Species of British Bream, and a 

 Species of Skate new to Science ; with a List of, and 

 Observations on, the Fishes of the Frith of Forth and 

 Neighbourhood. By Richard Parnell, M.D., F.R.S.E. 



The author stated that, in July last, he obtained from the Frith 

 of Forth a species of Bream, which he believes to be the Pagellus 

 acarne of Cuvier. Length 13 inches ; depth 4 inches ; head one- 

 third the length of the body not including the tail-fin. General form 

 resembling that of the Sea Bream, but not so deep in proportion 

 to its length. Scales large ; 70 forming the lateral line, 6^ in an ob- 

 lique row between it and the first ray of the dorsal-fin. Anterior- 

 teeth small and numerous, disposed in many rows ; outer row com- 

 posed of 30 teeth, longer and more bent than those within ; mo- 

 lars large, disposed in three rows in each jaw. 



D 12-12, P 16, VS, A 3-11, C. 20. Body pale silvery red. Dor- 

 sal and caudal fins rose-red ; ventral and anal fins paler. Between 

 the eyes reddish-brown ; in front of the eyes and on the lower half 

 of the preoperculum, metallic grey ; on the upper part of the base 

 of each pectoral fin, a deep violet-coloured spot, very conspicuous 

 even in the dried state. (See Plate II.) 



It differs from the Sea Bream in the eye being smaller, the mo- 

 lars much larger, and in having a dark spot at the base of the pecto- 

 rals, which the Sea Bream never possesses. 



It differs from the Spanish Bream in having the origin of the la- 

 teral straight, whereas in the Spanish Bream it is suddenly bent ; in 

 tlie eyes being larger ; and in presenting the pectoral spot, which is. 

 never found in the other Bream. 



The species of Skate, to which Dr Parnell has proposed the spe- 



