314 WHITMAN AND EYCLESHYMER. PVOL cur: 
notice or consultation with the parties primarily interested, 
Dr. Fiilleborn came to us with the request for direction and 
aid in getting the eggs. Under the circumstances, we could 
only decline, explaining the reasons which stood in the way, 
and pointing out some of the proprieties in the case which 
should have received attention. It is quite possible that Dr. 
Fiilleborn had not been previously informed of these, as was 
to be expected that he had been by Dr. Virchow, under whose 
instruction he was acting. 
When, in 1893, Dr. Virchow applied to several parties for 
assistance in finding the eggs of Necturus and Amia, he was 
referred to Mr. Whitman. Learning that work on these eggs 
was already in progress, Dr. Virchow courteously explained that 
he only wished to study the “ Dotterorgan,” and that he would 
not make any use of the material which would conflict with the 
work on general development already begun by Mr. Whitman. 
With that understanding, the information desired was freely 
and fully given, and a pretty complete series of drawings of the 
egg of Necturus was shown to him. 
Next came Dr. Fiilleborn, under advice from Dr. Virchow, 
to take advantage of the information confidentially obtained by 
the latter, in collecting the same material for purposes well 
known to conflict with studies in progress here. The mystery 
of the “ Dotterorgan”’ was now disclosed, and no further com- 
ments seem to be required. 
OECOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
1. Previous Papers. 
There are only four works to which we can refer the reader 
for information on the habits, eggs, nests, and larval history of 
Amia. Mr. Allis! has given a series of drawings of the larva, 
to illustrate the successive changes in form and the develop- 
ment of the lateral-line organs. Dr. Filleborn? has recently 
1 Edward Phelps Allis, Jr.: The Anatomy and Development of the Lateral 
Line System in Amia Calva. Journ. of Morph., Il, p. 463. 1888. 
2F. Fiilleborn: Bericht iiber eine zur Untersuchung der Entwickelung von 
Amia, Lepidosteus und Necturus unternommene Reise nach Nord-America. 
Sitzungsberichte der Akad. ad. Wiss. zu Berlin, XL, pp. 1057-1070. Oct. 25, 1894. 
