136 
upon its size, and secondly on the degree of its 
viciousness when placed in the wine. 
An assortment of dessicated sea horses repos- 
ing in a large candy jar in the window of a 
Chinese apothecary in San Francisco attracted 
my attention, and the proprietor rewarded my 
curiosity with the remark, “Alle kin’ medicine,” 
that is, a panacea. We could wear a dried sea 
watch and nibble its tail 
when indisposed. 
horse on our chain 
At the Customs House, whither I went for 
further information, I found a book by Stewart, 
Plants used for Medicine by the Chinese, and 
incidentally learned from it that grass cut from 
the mouth of an old well, dried and placed 
beneath a baby’s bed, would prevent its crying 
during the night. But there was no printed 
reference to the medicinal virtues of sea horses, 
nor could the Chinese officials enlighten me. 
Returning a few days later to the drug store, 
I purchased a dried sea horse—for ten cents— 
and the proprietor now assured me that it was 
“good for lookum,” that is, a curio, as well as 
a panacea. 
Another Chinese apothecary, however, volun- 
teered the more valuable information that a 
steeped essence of Hoy ma (sea horse) is a 
certain cure for the itch!—C. G. 
Noises Mave sy Fisurs.—Very few persons 
are aware that nearly all fishes are capable of 
producing sounds. All of the Haemulon family, 
commonly called grunts, get their name from 
the grunting sounds they make; the drum fish’s 
name is derived from its drumming noise. Most 
members of the sculpin family emit certain 
sounds, the sea raven having won the name of 
Sally Growler from fishermen, because of its 
habit of growling on occasion, like a puppy over 
a bone. The eel is called smacker, because of 
the curious sound it makes when feeding on fish 
fry and young sea worms at the surface of the 
water, and this fish also makes a peculiar hiss- 
ing noise when out of water or when confined in 
small quarters. The croaker came rightly by its 
name, and pufters produce certain sounds when 
held in the hand, similar to the grinding of teeth. 
Weak fish are perhaps most notorious among 
seafaring men, for the noises they make. They 
are attracted to vessels anchored in the bays, 
and I have heard more than one captain of a 
brick schooner plying from Haverstraw-on-the- 
Hudson to New York, remark that weakfish, 
croaking under the ship on a still night in June 
or July, produced enough noise to keep a light 
sleeper awake. The weakfish also make the 
same sound out of water.—W. I. DEN. 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
BULLETIN 
a 
THE PERPETUALLY INTERESTING HORSESIIOE 
CRAB ( LIMULUS, NEAREST LIVING RELATIVE 
OF THE EXTINCT TRILOBITES 
Abundant on the New York Coast. 
IN THE AQUARIUM 
This is a place of enchantment, where two 
worlds come together, 
Full of impossible beauty and wondering little 
children. 
Here, serene and silent, are creatures of gold 
and of silver, 
Sprinkled over with rainbows; others of pearly 
transparence ; 
And others of delicate colors shifting and blend- 
ing like music 
Calm and aloof in a world of their own, imper- 
turbably gliding. 
This is a place of enchantment, where suddenly 
one desires 
Like them to be strangely lovely, living with 
effortless ease 
In a crystalline world unapproachable; yet 
nevertheless to be, 
Like them, for little children a wonder of pure 
delight. 
—Mary, in The Evening Sun. 
