76 Meetings of the Scientific Association of Great Britain. 
Scotland. M. Agassiz gave a very interesting and instructive view 
of the fossil fishes of Scotland. They are very numerous, but the 
facts concerning them cannot be conveniently condensed ; for de- 
tailed information, the fuller report must be resorted to, in Jame- 
son’s New Edin. Jour. Oct. 1834. 
Mr. Saul exhibited drawings of the incisors and canine teeth of 
the fossil hippopotamus, from a gravel pit near Huntingdon. 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
Chairman, Prof. Granam. 
Sept. 9.—Genus Salmo.—Professor Agassiz presented a view of 
the Genus Salmo, as found in Europe. While the ventral fins are of 
a middling size, the caudal fin is attached to a very fleshy root, and 
is moved by very powerful muscles. This elastic spring is, to these 
fishes, a most powerful lever; when wishing to leap to a great height, 
they strike the surface of the water with a kind of double stroke. 
By this means, they overcome obstacles which appear insurmounta- 
ble, and leap over nets which are intended to confine them. The 
most formidable water falls can scarcely arrest them. The several 
species of this genus are found in the northern and temperate regions 
of Europe, Asia, and America. 
The fishes of this family are very ravenous, their food being prin- 
cipally, the larve of aquatic and other insects, and of the small 
crustacea, and little fishes. 
The swimming bladder is very large, and opens into the esopha- 
gus, near the bottom of the gullet. 
Prof. Agassiz expressed the extraordinary opinion, that this organ 
is the lungs of fishes, and that their branchia are not, as has been 
supposed, analogous to the lungs of other animals. 
Most of the salmon varieties reside in fresh waters; go to the sea 
in summer, and visit the rivers tospawn. Most of our species, (says 
Prof. A.) deposit their ova in November and December, and the 
young fry, coming into being in cold weather, can support all varia- 
tions of temperature. 
The colors of the different kinds of Salmo vary with the seasons. 
Their tints are most vivid in October, November, December, and 
January ; and “‘we might almost say that these fishes deck them- 
selves in a nuptial garb, as birds do.”’. The fishes of the salmo fam- 
ily are very widely distributed, and some of the varieties are much 
valued for the table. Those of the continent of Europe may be 
included within the following six species : 
