SECOND YEAR AT PENIKESE. 77 



the. eyes of fishes while swimming in different posi- 

 tions in the water. Two of our professors, who were 

 present, explained: The one, the nerves and move- 

 ments of the fish eye in general; the other, the gen- 

 eral structure of the eye and the apparent reason for 

 the peculiar movements previously alluded to. The 

 question was, as to whether the pupil moved in a line 

 with the inclination of the body or not; the opinion, 

 pretty generally expressed, seemed in favor of the af- 

 firmative. Remarks were also made upon the differ- 

 ence in the development of the tadpole, or young, of 

 our different species of toads and frogs. In showing 

 the periods of growth in the different species, the 

 speaker said: that in batrachians the hind feet were 

 those which were first developed, while in the sala- 

 manders it was the fore feet; thus distinguishing the 

 young of these two great classes. He said that all 

 our species of the former, excepting those of the 

 green and spotted frogs, assume their true form very 

 soon after hatching from the egg, while those refered 

 to were sometimes two to three years in maturing. 

 He showed, also, that physical conditions have much 

 to do with the quickness with which they assume 

 their adult forms, and that they must be able, for 

 their proper and perfect development, to leave the 

 water at times, and climb up upon the mud or earth 

 banks of their breeding-pool, where, thus keeping 

 their bodies still moist and hence supple, they could, 

 at the same time, exercise their limbs and receive the 

 sun upon them. And thus, after many other inter- 

 esting and instructive discussions, the meeting ad- 

 journed for one week. 



Our lecture, about this time, from Professor Theo- 

 dore Lyman, the veteran Fish-culturist, upon the 

 subject of pisiculture, excited in us a great deal of at- 

 tention. I well remember how masterly he handled 

 his subject, and how we admired his instructive talk 

 upon a question of which, hitherto, we had remained 

 in such utter ignorance; and this, as near as I can re- 



