ELASTICITY OF OVA. 163 



When impregnating the ova of trout from the Wandle, 

 Mr Buckland remarked, for the first time, that the ova 

 of some of the trout were of a splendid coral red- 

 coloured ; others, on the contrary, were almost as white 

 as peas, yet all good eggs. This depends, it is said, 

 upon whether the trout is red-fleshed or white-fleshed. 

 And we subsequently ascertained that the young fish 

 hatched from the red eggs were much brighter than 

 those from the yellow. A correspondent informs him 

 that the same great variety exists in the colour of gray- 

 ling ova, though the parents in that fish are not red- 

 fleshed ; and also points out that, though we have no 

 red-fleshed hens, there is a variety of colour in the eggs 

 daily presented at the breakfast-table. He adds, " the 

 pale and the red fish ova are equally fertile, and the 

 colour does not depend on the age of the parents. 

 These two points I have proved. I cannot believe it 

 to depend on colour of flesh, and therefore attribute it 

 solely to variety in feeding." 



With this statement we were disposed to concur, as 

 we constantly observe that when our fowls are not pro- 

 perly fed the yolks of their eggs are pale and flavour- 

 less. But we were quite at a loss to explain why the 

 shells of our chittagong's eggs are pink, while those of 

 our Spanish fowls are white. As they receive the same 

 sort of food, the difference in the colour of the shells 

 seems to indicate that this is a characteristic difference 

 of species. And if it be so with the eggs of fowl, why 

 may not difference in colour also indicate like difference 

 among fish ? Consequently, the first point to settle as 

 to different-coloured fish eggs is, whether they have 

 been taken from the same variety of fish. 



The ova of fish are exceedingly hard and tough, and 

 so elastic as to rebound from the floor like an india- 

 rubber ball, a beautiful provision to prevent them 

 being crushed or injured by the stones amongst which 

 they are deposited. 



" I was much surprised," observes Mr Buckland, " to 



