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our beaches and is supposed by many persons to be a kind 

 of sea plant, being black and of the texture of dried 

 rockweed. In shape it very much resembles a hand bar- 

 row and one of its common English names is derived 

 from this resemblance. This case is formed in the ovi- 

 duct of the fish, and unlike the process in other oviparous 

 animals, where the shell is the last part of the egg pro- 

 duced, this case or shell is in part formed before the egg 

 is deposited in it. The egg, enclosed in the case, is then 

 laid and becomes attached to various substances by means 

 of filaments extending from the projections or tubes of 

 the case. After a while the young skates are hatched, 

 when the empty shell is driven on shore. Many of the 

 skates lay eggs of this character, others are viviparous. 

 The common dog fish, which is a species of shark, is vivip- 

 arous, and produces five or six young in a perfect state 

 at a time. Some of the larger species of sharks are 

 oviparous, others are viviparous. Mr. Putnam's remarks 

 were listened to with much interest, many of his facts 

 being new to a large portion of the audience. 



HISTORICAL NOTICES OF THE THIRD PARISH AT ANNISQUAM. 



Kev. E. W. COFFIN, of Orange, Mass., a former pastor 

 of the society at Annisquam for the term of five years, 

 was next called upon to give a short sketch of the history 

 of the society. He said that Mr. Hooper, the present 

 pastor, having been notified that it would be desirable for 

 him to give the meeting some information concerning the 

 rise and progress of the Parish in whose church they 

 were to assemble, and having made arrangements, which 

 he could not change without great inconvenience, to be 

 absent on his summer vacation at the time of holding the 

 meeting, had requested him to supply the desired infor- 

 mation. He had, when pastor of the society, prepared and 



