THE TARPON 49 



ing in the pipe the escape of air bubbles was watched, as 

 in finding punctures in an automobile tire tube. Bubbles 

 were seen to emerge only from the gullet. Upon dissection, 

 the opening from the air bladder into the gullet (or 

 oesophagus) was plainly visible as already stated. 



''Upon cutting open the air Madder the interior was 

 found to contain bands of cellular or lung-like tissue, 

 which lay principally in two longitudinal hands, one larger 

 than the other, and re-divided posteriorly. Two 'lungs', as 

 in the higher vertebrates, therefore, are suggested. 



"(d) Specimen 275 mm. (11 inches) from tip to tip. 

 Vertebrae 34+23. Gill rakers on lower limb of first arch 

 40. Stomach contents, 3 small silversides (Menidia sp.). 

 The air bladder was examined in the same way as in speci- 

 men (c) above. The opening into the gullet again was 

 plainly visible, and the inside structure of the bladder 



agreed in all respects with specimen (c). 



* * * * # 



''The connection of the air bladder with the gullet, and 

 the development of lung-like bands of tissue within the 

 bladder, no doubt explains how young tarpons are able 

 to exist in the extremely stagnant pools in which they 

 sometimes are found. Perhaps it explains, also, why tar- 

 pons frequently come to the surface. However, before 

 philosophizing on the behavior of the adults in this re- 

 spect it would seem advisable to examine the air bladder 

 of adults for a connection with the gullet and for cellular 

 tissue, as there is the possibility of changes with age. If 

 you could at this time, or later, furnish the internal organs 

 with the air bladder attached of one or more adults, I 

 should be glad to make an examination. 



''The development of the air bladder of the small tarpon 

 examined is very similar to that found in the fresh water 

 gars and in the bowfin, ];ut not so far advanced as in the 

 lungfishes." 



