ZOOLOGY. 559 
He gave me all necessary instructions and shewed me his kindness 
on many occasions.” Here is another item that is of interest. 
While speaking of New York, and the oysters found there, he goes 
on (I, p. 187),—‘* Lossters are likewise plentifully caught here- 
abouts, pickled much in the same way as oysters, and sent to 
several places. I was told of a remarkable circumstance about 
these lobsters, and I have afterwards frequently heard it men- 
tioned. The coast of New York had already European inhabitants 
for a considerable time, yet no lobsters were to be met with on 
that coast ; and though the people fished ever so often, they could 
hever find any signs of lobsters being in this part of the sea; 
they were, therefore, continually brought in great well-boats from 
New England, where they are plentiful ; but it happened that one 
of these well-boats broke in pieces at Hellgate, about ten English 
miles from New York, and all the lobsters in it got off. Since that 
time they have so multiplied in this part of the sea, that they 
"o now caught in the greatest abundance.” —Wm. H. BREWER. 
THE INFLUENCE OF THE NERVES UPON THE CHANGE OF COLOR 
or Fish anp Crustacea.—A change of color is observed in 
Many fish. It may be rapid and intense, as in the chameleon, 
but lacking its variety. Pouchet studied this phenomenon in a 
fish-breeding pond in Concarneau, among species of Blennius, Go- 
bius and Pleuronectids. In a former communication to the Acad- 
emy of Science, Pouchet reported that this change of color of the 
surface of the fish, corresponding to the color of its surroundings, 
originated in the brain, and the impression was caused by the ac- 
tion of the surrounding medium upon the retina. With the ex- 
tirpation of the eyes this power of the animal disappeared. The 
linded pleuronectide receives a subdued tint which remains, 
whatever be the color of the surroundings. This neutral coloring 
Seen upon the entire body may be called a paralysis of the pig- 
ment cells. Pouchet tried to prove the influence of the nerves 
upon the pigment cells in the following experimental manner. 
Young Pleuronectide that changed their color with rapidity were 
kept in a tank with a brown bottom; before severing the nerve 
they were put into another tank, the bottom of which was covered 
with sand; here the specimens operated upon became bleached. 
ept those portions especially influenced by the nerves, they 
their dark color. By separating the spinal cord no such 
