134 Scientific Intelligence. 
them by an indescribably thin, diaphanous membrane ; this mass was 
further bounded above by the spine and ribs, below and behind by the 
posterior inferior abdominal walls, bulging backward of the anal orifice 
and fin. ‘The exterior envelop of this oblong globe consisted of a very 
“er pelucid, extremely delicate and apparently laminated and floccu- 
nt membrane, like the amnion of the human embryo in the early state ; 
it did not forma simple sack, but consisted of many duplications like 
the arachnoidal BB among the sinuosities and convolutions of the 
uman brain, sending its prolongations as the hyaloid membrane does, 
through the vitreous mass of the eye. 
This uterine membrane (ovisac it may not be termed) contained 
viscera ; but the parent fish, and still more its inclosed organs, were too 
minute to admit of full demonstration during a necessarily hurried ex- 
amination ; moreover the wish not to mutilate the parent fish very much 
prevented a fuller dissection of the foetal mass in situ. 
Each feetal fish was doubled laterally, oe to the right, some- 
times to the left into the globular form, the al fin which is inclined 
to the lancet shape, though blunter, Seeahiie = one eye and one side of 
the mouth ; each fish in situ, and even after forcible extraction from its 
bed was infolded in a = some were drawn i united by pedicles to 
a common stem, somewhat like an umbilical c 
These fetal fishes pleneatied a perfect eae of close packing. 
perceptible force was required to dislodge them from their beds. The 
concavity left by their ——— appeared to be lined with a smooth, 
black, peritoneal membra 
The intestines which were V very minute were crowded forward by the 
rounded mass of foetuses which occupied the greater portion of the ab- 
dominal cavity. No ova were discovered. 
The ma vernal fish not being much mutilated, is reserved for a more 
detailed technical description, which my leisure and the limits of this 
Journal will not admit of at 
Without attempting fully to describe even the dermal skeleton, I may 
observe that this tiny fish is a most symmetrical one. Its minuteness 
fo) 
foetuses it weighed only seven grains, though not disembowe 
Thorough desiccation would probably reduce its weight one half or 
more. ‘The fish exposed for two hours in the shade on a damp day, 
was but slightly desiccated. It was weighed by Mr. Macpherson, apoth- 
ecary, in my presence; but fearing a mistake I had it weighed the 
second time, with the same Sate If each foetus should weigh but one 
grain, the aggregate would be more than three times greater than that 
of the mother 
easurements in inches: Length including the caudal fin 2 inches; 
greatest circumference 1}; width vertically $5 oe of thoracic fin 
43 the caudal fin does not expand from its base or proximal end, but 
terminates ovally, its length 4; the anal but little expanded 3; the ven- 
tral is too minute for convenient measurement, being almost ine 
without a lens ; the dorsal which is single, has but a slight vertical wi 
