756 



THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. XLI 



The larger females contain an enormous number of eggs. Six- 

 teen pounds of roe was the heaviest single yield observed, but the 

 maximum is no doubt greater; ten to twelve pounds was an average 

 yield. The egg resembles that of Acipenser very closely in size 

 and color. It is slightly oval in shape with the polar diameter 

 longer and measuring about 2.7 mm. ; the equatorial diameter is 

 only about 2.2 mm. It is of a dark brown or blackish color. There 

 is a considerable polar differentiation, the animal pole of the egg 

 having a cap of lighter colored protoplasmic material with a rather 

 distinct dark ring about its lower border. The denser deuto- 

 plasmic part of the egg is gradually located about its lower, vegetal 

 pole. 



Various measurements were made on a number of fish in the 

 hope of discovering some sexual difference. While making such 

 measurements a rather interesting ratio was found to exist between 

 the length of the fish and that of the snout, as will be seen by refer- 

 ring to the accompanying table. In the table the individuals 

 are arranged in the order of their lengths, the longest fish being 

 at the top of the column. The entire length of the fish is expressed 

 in inches in the first column and the length of the rostrum, from 

 the anterior border of the eye to the tij) of the snout, in the third 

 column; by dividing the latter nicasunMneiit by tlie former in any 

 one case, the decimal given in the Hfth cohnnn is <)l)tained. The 

 decimal, then, represents the fraction of tlu- entire body length 

 which is formed by the snout, and it is seen by comparing the data 

 given for fifteen individuals selected at random, that the propor- 

 tionate length of the snout decreases gradually and quite regularly 

 as the fish increases in size. In other words a small fish, about 

 two feet in length, has a snout one-third of the length of its body 

 or eight inches long; and the large fislies, like the third and eiglith 

 in(Uvi(hials of the tahU-, may have snouts less than one-fourth of 

 their ImhIv hMiuth.. Hetween the>e extrcnu-. one iuuU a re-nhir 



