ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MIGEOSCOPY, ETC. 15 



trees at a short distance back in the forest, and is different from the cry 

 of any other Batrachian." 



Adrenal Tumours in Frog.* — W. M. Smallwood gives an account 

 of the macroscopic appearance and histology of a pair of adrenal tumours 

 in a frog. There was no evidence of the normal adrenal in its usual 

 position. The cells of the tumour were observed to be dividing rapidly, 

 and in nearly every instance by mitosis, but atypically. They were very 

 similar to normal adrenal cells, so that this is probably a case of an 

 adrenal tumour developed from the entire adrenal body. The tumour is 

 almost identical with human adrenal tumours of the papillary type. 



Intermaxillary Gland of Toad.f — R. Oeder finds that this gland 

 has a bilateral primordium, and only three main efferent ducts. That 

 of the frog is an unpaired body with 20-25 ducts opening on the roof 

 of the mouth. 



Role of Fins in Fishes.J — A. Duges has some new and interesting 

 views on the functions of fish fins. His experiments, which were carried 

 out on Goodea atripinnis, yielded th2 following results. The loss of 

 dorsal and anal fins did not affect the swimming capabilities ; removal 

 of pectorals and ventrals caused slight disturbance at first, but the fish soon 

 recovered and swam deliberately. Removal of tail fin caused the greatest 

 inconvenience : the fish at first sank to the bottom and hid, rising later. 

 Another example was able to turn, and rise and sink, and swim forward, 

 but less easily than others. It worked the dorsal and anal fins in place 

 of the lost caudal. When all the fins, except the caudal, are removed, 

 the fish can still swim, but has to keep its fin in continual motion, thus 

 causing the whole body to tremble. The author thinks the whole of 

 locomotion is effected by the caudal fin, and that the unpaired ones 

 simply give precision to the general movements. The paired fins have 

 practically no significance in locomotion : the pectorals seem to serve the 

 purpose of producing currents to aid the gills, since they are more active 

 when the fish is at rest than when moving. 



Branchial Filter of Fishes.§ — Adolf Steuer gives an interesting 

 account of the branchial filter, with especial reference to Adriatic fishes. 

 Unlike fresh-water forms, marine fishes show great variety in their filter 

 apparatus. Neither phylogenetic nor known cecological factors suffice 

 for the interpretation of the great diversity. The role of the filter is 

 mainly to close the first cleft, which is the largest, and thus to prevent 

 the loss of food and the soiling of the gills ; but the varied and detailed 

 action and the diversity of structure cannot be briefly summarised. 

 There is a useful summary as to the diet of Adriatic fishes. 



Function of Lateral Line Organs in Fishes.|| — Gr. H. Parker has 

 experimented with various fishes, chiefly with Fundulus heteroditus, in 

 order to determine the function of the lateral line. The sensory organs 



* Anat. Anzeig., xxvi. (1905) pp. 652-8. 

 t Zool. Anzeig., xxix. (1905) pp. 538-9. 

 j Bull. Soc. Zool. de France, xxx. (1905) pp. 107-10. 

 § Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, lv. (1905) pp. 275-99 (25 figs.). 

 || Bull. U.S. Bureau Fisheries, xxiv. (1905) pp. 183-207. See also Zool. Zentralbl. 

 xii. (1905) pp. 480-1. 



