1890.] and modes of feeding of Fishes. 43 



thus lying hid, food or even the juice of food-substances is put 

 into the water, they come out after an interval and search vaguely, 

 without regard to the direction whence the scent proceeds. Some 

 of the animals (Rocklings, Sterlet) have special tactile organs in 

 the shape of barbels or filamentous fins with which they investi- 

 gate their neighbourhood, while others (Conger and Eels) feel 

 about with their noses. None of the fishes which hunt by scent 

 seem able to recognise food by the sense of sight, even though it 

 be hanging freely before their eyes. 



The mode of feeding of the Sole is peculiar. When searching 

 for food its skin is more or less covered with sand, which renders 

 it inconspicuous when moving on the bottom. This sand adheres 

 to mucus which is probably exuded when the smell of food is 

 perceived. The Sole seeks its food exclusively on the bottom, 

 creeping about and feeling for it with the lower side of its face. 

 If a worm is lowered by a thread until it actually touches the 

 upper side of the head of a Sole, the animal is still unable to find 

 it but continues to feel for it on the sand. There is however no 

 reason to suppose that the sight of these fishes is deficient. A 

 Rockling at Plymouth had already learnt to come out to be fed if 

 any one came near the tank, though it still did not recognise a 

 worm swimming in the water. Particulars were given of the 

 various irideal mechanisms which occur among fishes. 



This investigation was undertaken at the instance of the Marine 

 Biological Association as a preliminary step towards improving the 

 supply of bait. The experience gained suggests that a bait for 

 the south coast, where Conger and Skate are chiefly caught, could 

 be made by extracting the flavour of Squid or Pilchard and com- 

 pounding it with a suitable ground-substance. Though few practical 

 experiments were made, it was found that an ethereal extract of 

 Nereis or Herring, for example, greatly attracted some of these 

 fishes. 



(2) Notes on Lomatophloios macrolepidotus (Goldg.). By A. C. 

 Seward, M.A., St John's College. 



[Received January 25, 1890.] 



In the Zeitschrift der deutschen geologischen Gesellschaft (Band 

 xxxiii. p. 354) Prof. Weiss of Berlin gives a short account of an 

 interesting fossil plant from Langendreer in the Westphalian 

 coalfield: it is preserved in Siderite ("Spatheisenstein") and, ac- 

 cording to Weiss, is a cone-like specimen having the characteristic 

 external features of Lomatophloios macrolepidotus (Goldg.); size 

 of specimen 18 cm. long and 13 cm. broad, with a fairly uniform 

 thickness of about 3'5 cm. 1 



1 The form of the specimen and the character of the leaf-bases are shewn in 

 figs. 3 and 4 (Plate III.). 



