TRANSACTIONS OP THE SECTIONS. 93 



Bhea were single, whilst those of the Casuary, Emu, and Moruk had two feathers 

 from each quill. The Apteryx, another member of this ftimily, laid a white egg, 

 the weight of the bird being GO ozs., that of the egg 14 ozs., forming the most 

 remarkable example in oology of the large size of the egg as compared to that of 

 the bird. 



On the MoUusca of Bath, and an account of Parasites found in Anodon 



cygnea. By J. E. Daniel. 

 The Bath Natural History and Field Antiquarian Club had in^•ited the anther 

 to prepare a list of the niollusca found in the vicinity of the city. The list con- 

 tained ninety species, included in twenty-eight genera. The Anodonta found in 

 the canals in the neighbourhood present objects of great interest in the parasites 

 with which they are infested. The number of animals' found in Anodon cyipiea 

 varies from about live up to as many as tlm-ty. The parasites found in Anodon 

 a7iatina are not so numei-ous, and they vary slightly in form, are darker and not 

 so brilliant, and the abdomen is longer and not so tumid. The author had seen an 

 entozoon living within the fleshy parts of the branchite, which may possibly be the 

 laiTa of which the parasite before described may be the imago. 



Some Observations on the Sahnonidce, chiefly relating to their Generative 

 Power. By John Davt, M.l)., F.R.S., Sfc. 



In this communication the author first noticed the remarkable fact that the 

 young salmon, the male in its parr-stage, has its testes fidly developed, and that 

 its milt is shed before it becomes a smolt and leaves the river for the sea — a fact 

 the more remarkable, as the female of the same age has the ovaries undeveloped, 

 merely in a rudimentary state. 



He next considered the question whether the sea-trout and the common trout 

 resemble the salmon as to the preceding peculiarity of function in the young fish. 

 From his own observations, the conclusion he has arrived at has been in the 

 aflannative as regards the former, and the negative as regards the latter. 



Thirdly, he ottered some remarks on the age at which the salmon and sea-trout 

 begin to breed, adoptiug the commonly received opinion as well proved, that the 

 salmon spawns on its first retm-n from the sea as a giilse ; but, contrary to what 

 is supposed, that the sea-trout does not spawn untH after a second retm-n from 

 the sea. 



Fourthly, he adverted to the question of the spawning of the Salmonidre, 

 whether yearly or only in alternate years, stating facts which had come under his 

 own knowledge, inducing him to iufer that all the several species, \\z. the salmon, 

 sea-trout, common trout, and charr, have a fallow season, and that the fish of each 

 kind called barren are examples of this rest of the generative organs. 



He concluded with some remarks on the interesting subject of the differences 

 exhibited by the nearly allied species of the Salmonidffi, all of which have at least 

 one quality in common, viz. that their ova cannot be hatched except in fresh 

 and well aerated water, leading, as he thinks, to the inference that the migi-atory 

 species have always been migratorj', unless indeed the seas were at one time less 

 salt than at present, and the lakes and rivers less fresh, and that then the habits 

 of the fish might have been formed, and they might gradually have become divided 

 into the migratoiy and non-migratory species. 



First Steps towards the Domestication of Animals. 

 By F. Galton, F.E.S., F.G.S., FE.G.S. 



A large mimber of instances were adduced from all parts of the world to show 

 that savages were addicted to making pets of animals, and the author concluded 

 that almost every animal had been frequently captured and tamed by them. He 

 also showed, from the histories of all the earlj^ monarchies, that it was customary 

 for kings to exact, and for barbarians to give, enormous numbers of wild animals 

 as tribute. The amphitheatrical displays of Rome made a similar demand on an 

 immense scale. Hence every animal appears to have been freqiiently under the 

 power of man ; but only a very few of them have proved capable of permanent 



