No. 376.] CORRESPONDENCE. 305 
fishes, in Paris. — Dr. John Valentin, of the University of Buenos 
Ayres, while on a geological expedition to Patagonia.— James 
Windoes, paleontologist, at Chipping Norton, England, aged 58 
years. — Morris Young, entomologist, at Paisley, Scotland, aged 76 
years. — Count Max Zeppelin, zoologist, in Stuttgart, Dec. 3, aged 
41 years.— Gustav Zimmermann, entomologist, at Briix, Bohemia, 
Dec. 29, aged 66 years. — Albert Zimmeter, botanist, at Innsbruck, 
Dec. 15, aged 49 years. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
The Mating Habits of Viviparous Fishes.— We are indebted to 
Professor Eigenmann for the following letter, which is of consider- 
able interest because nothing has been recorded heretofore in regard 
to the mating habits of the remarkable viviparous fishes of California. 
SEATTLE, WASH., Feb. 13, 1897. 
Mr. CARL H. EIGENMANN: 
Dear Sir, —1 have just finished reading your article on the “ Viviparous 
Fish of the Pacific Coast,” in vol. xii of the Bulletins of the U. S. Fish 
Commission, and was very much interested. I thought some observations 
of mine a few years ago might interest you, so take the liberty to write to 
you. About six years ago I was crossing Grant Street bridge (which runs 
across the shallow mud flats south of the city) in July ; the tide was making 
and the water perfectly clear. I saw a large school of pogies, or perch, 
Damalicthys argyrosomus ; their actions were so peculiar that I stopped 
and called the attention of passers-by to them. 
The identification of the fish I am sure of, but can state the year and 
the season only approximately. The perch were swimming around very 
leisurely, when two would approach, swimming in the same direction, and 
when about their length apart would turn on their side and come in contact, 
still moving ahead slowly. They made apparently no effort to remain 
together, but after an instant would separate and resume their normal posi- 
tion. I did not observe whether the act was repeated by both, but in one 
instance I was sure that one of them immediately came in contact with 
another in the same manner. 
I recognized the act as one of copulation, as also did the other observers.. 
Any further information, if it is, that I can furnish I will gladly do so, 
though I am not posted on the fishes, but have always been an observer of 
natural objects coming before me. 
I remain yours, 
P. B. RANDOLPH. 
