The Zoologist— March, 1874. 3897 



body curved, as my friend Mr. W. A. Lloyd remarks, to diminish the 

 leverage, — in one particular shell (an old valve of a Cardium), and, 

 although there are others in the tank, he never forsakes this for them, 

 and if he is temporarily dislodged, waddles about with his peculiar 

 tadpole-like progression until he finds his old quarters again. 



The worm pipe-fish [Syngnaihus liitnhriciformis) is also rather 

 attached to a particular locality, and may frequently be found under 

 the same stone in the tank. When he does, however, condescend to 

 take a swim and show that wonderful screw-propeller-like dorsal fin 

 of his, what a beautiful object it is, strongly reminding one of the 

 appearance of ciliary motion. It is a timid fish, and, like the Hippo- 

 campus, seems to have a somewhat plaintive expression of coun- 

 tenance. 



The gray mullet, on the contrary, exhibit no such feelings of 

 attachment : quiet and sedate during the day, with their noses 

 sometimes out of the water, appearing to " nibble the air," at night 

 they are all activity, swimming round the tank after each other in 

 delicate curves, the silvery scales of their abdomen flashing like 

 drawn swords in the sunlight. ^ ^ Hughes. 



Birmingham, 3rd February, 187i. 



Postscript. — Closely bearing on, or connected with, the question 

 as to the sleep of fishes, is another iiiteresting subject, as to their 

 torpidity in the winter months. During the severe frosl which set 

 in on the night of the 8th instant and continued until the 12t]), the 

 fishes in my aquaria remained in a lethargic state and refused food, 

 or took it but very sparingly, although frequently offered. The 

 wrasses assumed the same peculiar positions and conditions as 

 mentioned above, the gray mullet lost their activity, and sought 

 the bottom of the tank ; even the blennies ceased to be familiar, 

 and secreted themselves in crevices near their old spots. But 

 immediately a change of temperature took place, on the r2th 

 instant, followed by rain, all the fishes resumed their wonted 

 activity, and took food freely. 



Zoologists are much indebted to the Editor for bringing forward 

 the interesting question as to the sleep of fishes ; and it is to be 

 hoped that, with the great facilities now afforded at the Crystal 

 Palace, Brighton and other public Aquariums, this and other equally 

 interesting problems in their life-histories will be solved. 



13th February, 1874. W. E. H. 



