116 BULLETIN OF THE 



If iuvestmente and re-investments are to be improved semi-annu'- 

 ally (instead of annually) at fne rate of 5 per cent per annum, the- 

 formula would become 



-T7f» 73,730,067 

 1.02 _ 43^30 Qg7 



and therefore 



.226864 .oion 



*^ ^ 7017200 = ^^-^^^^^^^^^^ 



the period required to cancel $750,000,000 of the public debt. 

 The next communication was by Mr. T. N. Gill on 



SOME REMARKABLE INSTANCES OF INGESTION AMONG FISHES. 



[Abstract.] 



Apocryphal as it may appear, there are some fishes which are 

 capable of ingesting and stowing away entire, others several times- 

 larger than themselves. This extraordinary feat is rendered pos- 

 sible in the first place by the great size of the mouth which is cleft 

 far backwards, and in the next by the excessive distensibility of 

 the stomach and abdominal integuments. The captor seizes the 

 larger fish by the tail and climbs over it as it were by alternate 

 movements of the upper and lower jaw, until finally the entire animal 

 is stored in the stomach. Meanwhile, the stomach and of course the 

 adjoining soft parts become more and more distended, and hang 

 down like an enormous sack. The most remarkable examples of 

 such capacity have been found in the Chiaswodon niger, a species- 

 related to the cod family, but several others, especially represen- 

 tatives of the Lophiid and Ceratiid families, are likewise prone to 

 attack others lai'ger than themselves. 



179th Meeting. April 10, 1880, 



The President in the Chair. 

 Fifty-two members present. 

 The first communication was by Mr. William Harkness 



ON THE SOLAR CORONA. 

 [Abstract.] 

 Mr. Harkness' remarks were based chiefly upon his own obser- 



