ZOOLOGY. 237 
were counted dead in one place on the snow near the tunnel. The 
little fellows were unable to get back to their boxes in the city 
and so perished from the cold.— Samurt LocKxwoop. 
PECULIAR COLORATION IN Fisnes.— A short time since while 
examining a number of alcoholic specimens of Cyprinoids from 
Ogden, Utah, collected by Mr. J. A. Allen last September for the 
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy, I noticed a species of Richard- 
sonius distinguished by a bright vermilion spot on the abdomen. 
The size of the spot varied in different individuals ; in some it was 
quite small, in others it extended from the base of the pectoral 
fin to the anal opening. Calling Mr. Allen’s attention to this fact 
he informed me, greatly to my surprise, that this color was not 
present in the living fish when he caught them, but appeared after 
the fish had been in alcohol a short time. A dissection of one of 
these fishes showed me that the color was deposited in the areolar 
layer or derm, and was therefore a true pigmentary color. The 
only explanation I can offer to account for this peculiar appear- 
ance of color is this :—it is well known that during the breeding 
season fishes frequently take on the most brilliant colors, which 
disappear when that season is past. Is it not therefore probable 
. that this color may have been one, at least, of the colors assumed 
by the fish during the reproductive period, and that the alcohol 
served in some way to bring out the color thus abnormally. 
Whatever may have been the cause, the fact that color can so 
appear in fishes will serve as a caution to ichthyologists when 
describing Species from alcoholic specimens alone, lest they con- 
found abnormal or seasonal colors with those that are permanent. 
Tf any of your readers have observed a similar peculiarity in 
| any other species of fish, I should be glad to learn of it through 
z the pages of your magazine.— Ricuarp Buss, JR. 
i _Dorattoy Or Lire or tHE Danus Arcatprus.— About the 
Middle of last September I found my first larva (7. e. the first 
a tarer happened to see though the fly is common even hereabout) 
= took it home to feed. I afterwards found more, having finally 
aam pupas, dating from 1st to 13th October, half of which I 
any. ; of the balance two came out males, but imperfect, the 
es td was a female and I kept it in an empty wardian case hoping 
e the fourth might be a male. I cannot give the date of its appear- 
but it was about the 18th, and at the end of a week it was 
