FISH IN WELLS. 



491 



FISH IN ARTESIAN WELLS. 



Many of the artesian wells which have been opened 

 up by French engineers in the waterless districts of 

 Algeria have furnished examples of a similar phenomenon. 

 When the water rose to the surface of the Ain-Tala well, 

 which is one hundred and forty-five feet in depth, some 

 small fish were discovered among the sand thrown out at 



FISH EJECTED FROM A WELL. 



the well's mouth. They did not exceed a couple of inches 

 in length, were malacopterous, and, in general appearance, 

 not unlike the familiar whitebait. The male was dis- 

 tinguished from the female by transversal bars. Though 

 these little creatures spent their lives in the darkness, 

 their eyes were regularly formed. 



SHOWERS OF FISH. 



Some incredulity has been expressed with reference to 

 the reports of showers of fish which occasionally appear 



