92 | General Notes. (January, | 
fessor Baird is of opinion that concussion, caused by terrific = 
storms, which raged off the banks, might probably account for it. 
The tile-fish was first discovered in 1879, was afterwards proved _ 
by the United States Fish Commission to occur in incredible ~ 
quantities along the western edge of the Gulf stream at a depth — 
of from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty fathoms, and was _ 
hoped to be a valuable addition to our food-fishes, as the quality of 
the flesh is excellent. It is to be feared that the mortality will for € 
a long time prove a check upon the supply, as diligent search this 
summer failed to find the tile-fish in their accustomed haunts. In- 
stead of it a few beautiful red fish, with very large and broad pec- — 
torals, afterwards found to be Scorpena dactylopterus, were met i 
with. The tile-fish belongs to the Latilidæ, but differs from 
Latilus in the presence of a large adipose appendage upon the 
nape, a little in advance of the dorsal fin, as well as in having 4 
fleshy prolongation of the Jabial folds beyond the angle of 
mouth. The upper parts of the body are dotted with yello 
spots. It attains a weight of fifty pounds. 
A singular flat-headed goby (Dormitator maculatus), known 
be common in the tropics, has, during the last five years become 
abundant in some bayous of the Mississippi, where they were — 
previously unknown. 
ee he) 
THE WORK OF THE “ TRAVAILLEUR.” —The French have not! 
the work of deep-sea exploration, but they are following 10 
to gather honors. The Mediterranean and the Bay of Bi 
offered an ample field, untrodden by the tracks of the English 
American exploring ships, and therefore these were chosen as & 
dredging-ground of the despatch-boat Travailleur, which 
French government lent for the service of science. In July, 
the Travailleur did good work in the Bay of Biscay, while int 
same month of 1881 she dredged in the Mediterranean aro" 
Corsica, across to Oran, and thence to Tangiers, whence she 
ceéded over the deep waters off the west coasts of Portugal @ 
Spain into the Bay of Biscay. The number of new species € 
countered is probably less than have been obtained by other ex 
ditions, but the short cruise, extending only from July, 3d 
to that of the Atlantic. pie X 
The Travailleur was provided with sounding apparatus SIM 
