Miscellaneous. 323 



From this ear-shaped stigma the crihriform stigma (such as that 

 of Jleterostoma) may be derived by imaginiui^ the floor-surface of 

 the stigmatic calyx to be considerably enlaiged, the trachete nar- 

 rowed and multiplied, and the distance between the margin of the 

 stigma and the floor of the calyx suppressed. 



Although the first pair of stigmata of JJeterostoma, which may 

 attain a diameter of 4 millim., even projects above the plane of the 

 body-surface, the last stigmata exhibit a depression of the calyx 

 &c. such as is typical of Branchiostoma, and thus, as the least deve- 

 loped, prove clearly that the ear-shaped stigma preceded the cribii- 

 form. 



I have not found any transition form between the fissiform and 

 the ear-shaped stigmata. 



To the embryonic characters of the stigma in the young Scolopen- 

 dridae must be added a peculiar one, hitherto unmentioned. Each 

 stigma is protected by a strong hook-like chitiuous process of some 

 breadth (up to 2 millim.), which is inclined over the aperture, and 

 is to be regarded as a duplication of the jfleura. This peculiar pro- 

 tective apparatus, which does not occur in the embryos of Lithobius, 

 must, as foetal, be contrasted with the embryonic form of the stigma, 

 which is so significant in developmental history. It is therefore to 

 be regarded as secondary, adapted to special conditions of life, and 

 probably produced, like the peculiar brooding, by the tenderness 

 and helplessness of the delicate embryos. — Zool. Anz. no. 246, 

 March 14, 1887, p. 140. 



On the Food of the Sardine. 

 By MM. G. PoucuEx and J. de Guerke. 



The authors have examined the contents of the intestine of 

 numerous sardines obtained from various places on the shores of 

 the Bay of Biscay, including materials collected at the Laboratory 

 of Concarueau. They say : — 



"At Concarnean the stomachs of sardines captured on 17th June, 

 1882, contain only Copepoda belonging to the largest species of the 

 European seas — Pleuromma annata, Boeck, and Ccdanus finmar- 

 chicus, Gunner*. These are pelagic Crustaceans, sometimes met 

 with in considerable quantities in the o])en sea, but which never 

 appear in great numbers near tlie shore. When they occur there in 

 exceptional abundance they constitute what the Breton fishermen 

 call the boet roiuje (in Celtic, houed, food and also bait). This would 

 exactly correspond, except, perhaj^s, in the identity of ail the 

 species, with the Eodaat, which seems to attract the summer her- 

 ring (Sommersild) on the coasts of Norway. 



"In July, August, and September, in the neighbourhood of 

 Concarneau, our preparations show us the sardine absorbing a 



* It will he noticed that all the Eutoniustraca here cited are indicated 

 for the first time upon the oceanic coasts of France or Spain. 



