16 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



are stimulated by infrequent oscillations in the water (about six per 

 second), and may be of use in orientation. As regards equilibration, 

 they are not of more importance than the skin, and far less important 

 than eye or ear. The oscillations which affect the lateral line are 

 between the pressures and currents, affecting the skin and the rapid 

 vibrations affecting the ear. The lateral line organs have their origin 

 in the skin, and may have given origin indirectly to the ear. 



Chemistry of Respiration in Fishes.*— G. van Rynberk gives an 

 historical summary of the most important researches on the chemistry 

 •of respiration in fishes, and a useful bibliography. 



Flounders with Spinulated Scales.j — Jas. Johnstone discusses the 

 occurrence of spinulated scales on the head and lateral line of flounders 

 (Phuronectes Jfesus). 



East African Fishes.!— J. Pellegrin gives an account of the fishes 

 obtained by M. Alluaud. There is a description of a type species of a 

 new genus, Astatoreochromis alluaudi, from Victoria Nyanza. It belongs 

 to the family Cichlidse. There is also a full description of three new 

 species, two of Paratilapia, and one of Tilapia. A remarkable varia- 

 bility in the Cichlid family in Victoria Nyanza is noted, although it is 

 not so marked as in Tanganyika. There is, further, not the extra- 

 ordinary specialisation of the dentition, but most certainly Victoria 

 Nyanza is an evolution centre for the group. Species are little fixed, 

 and there are numerous transitional forms — e.g. Astatoreochromis 

 alluaudi forms a link between Astatotilapia and Oreochromis. 



Gullet Teeth of Elasmobranchs.§ — J. W. Spengel has examined 

 these in an embryo of Mustelus Icevis, 15 cm. long. He found that these 

 teeth are not all directed backwards, as stated by Imms. Only the dorsal 

 teeth were so directed. Of the ventral, which are situated in the mucous 

 membrane over the hyoid bone, only a few of the anteriorly placed ones 

 are turned backwards ; all the others point forwards. No transitional 

 or intermediate stages are present, and there is a gap between the two 

 types in which the epithelium forms a separating fold. 



Vascular System of the Lamprey.|| — G. Favaro has studied various 

 parts of the vascular system in Petromyzon marinus, the vascularisation 

 of the branchial lamellae, the segmental arteries and veins of the trunk, 

 and the disposition of the caudal bloodvessels. 



Notes on Cape Verde Marine Fauna. f — Cyril Grassland compares 

 the Cape Verde marine fauna with that of East Africa. A few species 

 are common to the two localities, but the two faunas are very distinct. 

 As far as the evidence of the Cape Verde Islands goes, there is no fauna 

 common to tropical seas. The scanty representation of some groups 

 (e.g. Corals and Alcyonarians) and practical absence of certain families 



* Atti R. Acad. Lincei, Roma, xiv. (1905) pp. 530-4. 



t Trans. Liverpool Biol. Soc, xix. (1905) pp. 301-3 (1 fig.). 



J*Mem. Soc. Zool. France, xvii. (1904) pp. 174-85 (1 pi.). 



$ Zool. Anzeig. xxix. (1905) pp. 332-3. 



|| Atti Accad. Sci. Veneto, Trentino-Istriana, ii., n.s., 1905, pp. 9-30 (4 figs.). 



^ Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1905, pp. 170-86 (6 figs.). 



