Higgins — On the Ear-hones of Fishes. 



161 



discovery of 'bituminous matter in rocks that, perhaps, are to be 

 considered as Laurentian, strengthens the views put forth by so 

 many able authors as to the " non-azoic " nature of these rocks, and 

 it is especially worthy attention that, so far as we are aware, 

 bitiuninous matter is nowhere else found in such old rocks and in 

 such abundance as to throughly penetrate them and to become an 

 integral part of them. What we did hitherto know was the presence 

 of graphite in the Laurentian rocks/ 



West. 



f f d. A 



Section of " Nullaberg" in "Wermland. 



EXPLANATION OF SECTION. 



a. Common reddish granitoid gneiss, h. Hyperite. c. A thick layer of bituminous gneiss and 

 bituminous mica schist together, d. Thin strata of bituminous mica schist, from one to one and a 

 half Swedish yard in thickness, ce. Fine gi-ained gneiss or mica schist. /. Black, thin, bittiminous 

 strata with silvery scales of mica. g. Drift, gravel, etc. 



G. L. 



II. — ^The Otolites of Fish. By E. T. Higgins, M.E.C.S. Journal 

 of the Linnean Society. Vol. IX. No. 35, January 30, 1867. 



THE object of this paper is to show that the otolites of fish have 

 a certain distinctive value in determining the genera and species 

 to which they belong, and that the close study of them in the recent 

 forms will enable the ichthyologist to confirm or disprove the specific 

 relationship of recent individuals, and to determine the affinity of 

 the fossil species. 



The author gives a description of the auditory apparatus in fish, 

 comparing it with that of other members of the animal kingdom. 

 The otolites of osseous fish may be said to be three in number on 

 each side, as the exceptions to the rule are very rare ; of these three, 

 however, but one — the central or largest — is of scientific interest, the 

 other two in the majority of fish being so small as to be with diffi- 

 culty found, and, when found, to be of very little use for the purpose 

 of identification. The author states that although he has examined 

 many thousands of fossil otolites he has not yet met with a single 

 specimen that could be referred to either of these smaller bones. 



Mr. Higgins does not agree that the shape of the groove on the 

 under surface of the central otolite is absolutely necessary for the 



^ See Geol. Mao., Vol. I, page 202. Dr. J. Bigsby, On the Laurentian For- 

 mation. 



VOL. IV. — NO. XXXIV. 11 



