June, 1888.] elliott bociety. 207 



JUNE 28th, 1888. 

 Vice-President H. P. Akchee in the Chair. 

 Books Received. 



Royal Society, London : Proceedings, Nos. 265--7. 



Kalserliche Leopoldina-Carolina Deutschen Akademie der Nat- 

 m-forscher, Halle : Band LII, Nr. 2-3. 



American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia : Proceedings, Vol. 

 XXV, No. 127. 



West American Scientist, San Diego, Cal. : Vol. PV, Nos, 35 

 and 36. 



J. Leidy, The Fresh Water Rhizopods of North America. Pre- 

 sented by Dr. C. W. Kollock. 



A letter of resignation from Dr. John L. Dawson, Jr., was read 

 and accepted. 



The following paper was read : 



Ovo-viviparous Reproduction of the Minnow. 



BY F. W. SCETLEPEGEELL, A. M. 



Some years ago, my attention was attracted by finding a large number of 

 small minnows in my aquaritim. Having always supposed that tbe Minnow, 

 {Leucisous pMxinus of Cuvier,) was, like other spinous fishes, oviparous, and 

 being certain that no eggs had been laid in the aquarium, I determined to 

 watch the development. Shortly afterwards, I captured from a fresh- water 

 pond, a female minnow with its abdomen very much distended. I placed it in 

 a separate basin of water, and was rewarded, about a week later, by finding 

 that it had deposited its young alive. The young minnows numbered about 

 one hundred, being one-eighth of an inch in length, and were quite active, 

 differing from the mature fish only in their heads, which were larger in pro- 

 portion. Since then I have frequently observed the ovo-viviparous reproduc- 

 tion of the minnow, the last occasion being about three weeks ago, I have 

 also made caieful seai-ch in ponds during April, Maj^ and Jrine, when min- 

 nows produce their young in this climate, but have never found any traces of 

 eggs, although the young fish could be caught and seen in all stages of growth. 

 The object of this ovo-viviparous reproduction in the economy of nature, is 

 apparent. The herring and other spinous fishes owe their increase to the enor- 



