LIFE IN TEFFE. 



241 



that family. These specimens furnished a complete embry- 

 ological series, some of them having their eggs at the back 

 of the gills, between the upper pharyngeals and the bran- 

 chial arches, others their young in the mouth in different 

 stages of development, up to those a quarter of an inch 

 long and able to swim about, full of life and activity, 

 when removed from the gills and placed in water. The 

 most advanced were always found outside of the gills, 

 within the cavity formed by the gill-covers and the wide 

 branchiostegal membrane. In examining these fishes Mr. 

 Agassiz has found that a special lobe of the brain, similar 

 to those of the Triglas, sends large nerves to that part 

 of the gills which protects the young ; thus connecting 

 the care of the offspring with the organ of intelligence. 

 The specimens of this morning seem to invalidate the 

 statement of the fishermen, that the young, though often 

 found in the mouth of the parent, are not actually de- 

 veloped there, but laid and hatched in the sand. The 

 series, in these specimens, was too complete to leave any 

 doubt that in this species at least the whole process of 

 development is begun and completed in the gill-cavity. 



October 11th. — Teff^. Yesterday, to our great pleasure, 

 our companions, Mr. James and Mr. Talisman, returned 

 from their canoe expedition on the rivers I§a and 

 Hyutahy, bringing most valuable collections. Mr. Agassiz 

 has felt some anxiety about their success, as, in con- 

 sequence of their small supply of alcohol, for preserving 

 specimens, which was, nevertheless, all he could spare 

 from the common store, a great deal of judgment in the 

 choice of specimens was required in order to make a truly 

 characteristic collection. The commission could not have 

 been better executed, and the result raises the number 

 11 p 



