ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 431 



Respiration in Bony Fishes.* — Taco Kniper has experimented with 

 Barb us fluviatilis, Telestes muticellus, and Gyprinus auratus. Inspiration 

 involves the opening of the mouth, the lowering of the floor of the 

 mouth, and a moderate dilatation of the operculum. In this phase the 

 gill-clefts are closed, and the water enters only by the mouth. 



Expiration involves closing the mouth, raising the floor of the mouth, 

 a posterior dilatation of the operculum and the associated membrane. 

 In this phase the gill-clefts are open, and the water passes out only 

 by them. 



At the end of expiration there is a rapid approximation of the oper- 

 culum to the body, ending the respiratory series of movements. The 

 mouth begins to open again, and a new inspiration sets in. 



German Carp in United States.j — L. J. Cole discusses this subject 

 from the economic standpoint. In a very full paper he gives much 

 interesting information regarding the habits of Gyprinus carpio, such 

 as migrations, hibernation, vitality, feeding, and breeding ; its diseases, 

 parasites, and enemies ; its economic relations and food value, etc. Its 

 presence in the United States does not appear to be greatly appreciated, 

 although it is recognised that, like the English sparrow, it has come to 

 stay and cannot be exterminated. Suggestions are made as to how to 

 use it to the best advantage. 



Saw of the Sawfishes.J — P. Pappenheim discusses the significance 

 of the saw in Pristiophorus and Pristis. The few observers who have 

 seen the animals living have not reported the real use of the saw. In 

 the stomach of Pristiophorus, Pappenheim found vertebras, jaw-frag- 

 ments, etc., of. fish ; in Pristis he found cycloid scales, vertebras, remains 

 of crustaceans, etc. The articulation of the skull with the vertebral 

 column is peculiar in Pristiophorus, and allows a vertical movement of 

 the skull, as well as a rotation on its long axis. It seems likely that the 

 saw is used primarily for rapid grubbing and burrowing in the mud and 

 gravel. There may also be an accessory protective function, but there 

 is no evidence of the saw being used as a weapon for ramming. 



Abnormal Dogfish.§ — G. P. Mudge describes a strange abnormality 

 in Scy Ilium canicula. The stomach was turned inside out and everted 

 into the pharyngeal cavity. That the condition was a permanent one is 

 shown by the great length of the lieno-gastric artery and by other con- 

 ditions. At quite an early stage in the differentiation of the primitive 

 gut, the proximal loop of the stomach probably became gradually everted, 

 this eversion setting up on one side a tension upon the lieno-gastric 

 artery which grew with the growth of the everted sac, and, on the other 

 side, a tension upon the proximal loop of the stomach near its junction 

 with the distal loop, which resulted in the formation of a peculiar tri- 

 angular invaginated ceecal pouch. 



* Atti Rend. R. Accad. Lincei Roma, xv. (1906) pp. 385-94 (9 figs.). 

 - f L)ept. of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of Fisheries : Appendix to Report of 

 Commissioners of Fisheries, Washington, 1905, pp. 523-641 (3 pis.). 

 J SB. Ges. Nat. Freunde Berlin, 1905, pp. 97-102. 

 § Zool. Anzeig., xxx. (1906) pp. 278-80 (1 fig.). 



