114 JONES — 'ON REPTILIA OF NOVA SCOTIA. 



the streams, caused by mill-dams, and accumulations of saw dust, 

 and the passing of boats, are doubtless the reason. Their numbers 

 have very much diminished along our coast, and doubtless will con- 

 tinue so to do. By the government returns for 1861, the total 

 number cured is put down at 12,565 barrels, but this does not 

 include all used for family consumption, — the eastern portion of 

 the province giving by far the greater quantity. Since that date 

 they are not returned separately, but classed with herring. I have 

 not mentioned one power attributed to it, because I think it needs 

 further corroboration, — the power of climbing up perpendicular 

 heights, as mill-dams, by holding on by its sharp serrated belly. 

 The instinct of all fish is to lie flat in shallow places ; the climbing 

 fish having a different apparatus. However, I mention it as a very 

 common belief. I would rather hazard the suggestion that their 

 saw points are used in spawning, as the trout uses his lower jaw, 

 in furrowing up the sand. 



JKote. — Since this article went to press, I have the most undoubted authority that 

 trout possess the power of running up perpendicular sheets of water at least six feet 

 high, and I cannot but accord the same power to the gaspereaux; in both instances by 

 muscular action, and not by the serrated belly. On 2nd August, 1865, the mill dam 

 at nine mile river was filled by young and old gaspereaux, returning to the sea, caught 

 there by the dry summer. Lewis Kirby, Esq. gave me this fact. 



In both these facts, I feel pleased to corroborate the statements of our fishermen, 

 which I have always found correct and exact, though doubted by some. 



Art. XII. Contributions to the Natural History of Nova 

 Scotia. Reptilia. By J. M. Jones, F. L. S. 



(.Read May 2, 1865.) 

 The class Reptilia forms no unimportant part of the animal 

 kingdom, and in the present advanced state of zoological knowledge 

 the species known to naturalists are annually becoming more numer- 

 ous. In the early days of science, when natural history had few 

 students, and even down to a comparatively recent period, the 

 study of reptiles was almost totally neglected ; and in the museums 

 of divers countries a few stray bottles full of snakes and lizards, 

 unnamed and uncared for, lying in some obscure corner, and deemed 

 too disgusting for the eyes of visiters, were the only representatives 

 of this singular race of creatures. It is far different, however, 

 now, for in our splendid national museum we possess a collection 

 which for interest can hardly be surpassed by other zoological 



