Royal Academy of Sciences of Paris. 423 1 



animal. In the works of that Prince of Naturalists, is the fol- 

 lowing passage : " There is a species of Frog, which is called 

 The Fisher. It derives this name from the wonderful industry 

 which it displays in procuring its nourishment: for in the front of 

 its eyes it has certain appendages which it extends like hairs, and 

 which, dilated at the extremity, form double baits which it car- 

 ries. After having stirred up the mud or the sand, it conceals 

 itself, and elevates these appendages ; the little fishes coming to 

 seize them, it draws them into its mouth." " The Lophius fishes 

 with the line," says Plutarch ; " for it throws out from its neck 

 a filament which it extends to a distance, in the manner of a 

 line, letting it out and drawing it in at pleasure. This 

 being done, when it perceives some little fishes about it, it al- 

 lows them to bite the extremity of this filament, being itself con- 

 cealed beneath the sand, or in the mud — when it gradually retracts 

 that member until the fish is near enough to be swallowed by a 

 quick motion." 



It is these filets pScheurs, as the author denominates them, 

 which have formed the subject of his researches ; he determines 

 their nature, and describes their general support. M. Bailly 

 says, that the third filament is articulated immediately with the 

 occipital integument : the Reporter thinks that this is not the 

 case, and details his objections. The description of the muscles 

 which serve for the various motions of the filaments is very satis- 

 factory, and shows that the Ancients were not deceived with re- 

 gard to the uses for which these appendages are destined. 



So voracious an animal as the Lophius, however, cannot obtain, 

 by fishing alone, sufficient to supply its wants. M. Geoffroy 

 describes the other habits of this singular fish, and concludes by 

 recommending the insertion of M. Bailly's Memoir in the Recueil 

 ties Savans etrangers, published by the Academy. 



May 24.— M. d'Hombre Firmas, Mayor of Alais, transmitted to 

 the Academy a Memoir, containing Observations on Fossils, and in 



particular on Ammonites. M. Geoffroy presented a Memoir on 



the analogy existing between the filets pecheurs of the Lophius, and 

 the ascending apophyses of the vertebrata, especially with the first 

 rays of the dorsal fin of the Siluri. — M. Audoin communicated 



