DORSAL VIBKATILE FIN OF THE EOCKLING (MOTELLA). 251 
groove surrounding the fin (the eyes of the rockling being at 
the same time concealed) ; a reaction was at once obtained, 
in which the fish either turned sharply round or rapidly 
“backed water” and seized the prey. This expeidment was 
repeated ag'ain and again, and at intervals by day and night, 
and the response observed was always clear and definite. The 
effect of placing the food on the taste-buds was so evident 
as to be at the same time entertaining. If one lowers the 
bait until it is in contact with the taste-buds, and then very 
I’apidly withdraws it, the fish responds, and then apparently 
loses the power of locating the food. In this connection it is 
interesting to notice that an observer states that one species 
of rockling rubs or rolls itself about its prey. 
In experiments of this nature one must be careful not to 
ascribe to tlie physiological action of the taste-buds, reflexes or 
I’eactions which might be due to the action of the other sense- 
organs. As regards the sense of sight, the fish did not in 
my experiments locate the bait by this means, as in many 
cases the eyes were covei’ed or concealed. 
Kegarding the sense of smell, it appeared to me that the 
reflexes were obtained before the odour of the bait had time 
to reach the nostrils. In regard to this point one may also 
refer to the work of Bateson and Herrick. Bateson iu the 
section of his j^aper which treats of the taste-buds of the 
pelvic fins and barbels of the rockling, says that the 
fact that the rockling in which the olfactory organs had 
been removed, did not pay any attention to food that was 
not put close to it, tends to show that the taste-buds are 
of use only in actual contact with the food. Herrick holds 
that the taste-organs are more efficient than Bateson has sup- 
■|)osed, and that the latter author did not sufficiently dis- 
tinguish between the senses of taste and smell. He holds 
that Bateson’s experiments were insufficient to demonstrate 
the real efficacy of the taste-buds. Herrick obtained reflexes 
from a tomcod, M icroga d u s tom cod, in which the olfactory 
organs had been extii'pated ; further, by letting down beef 
extract, which had been previously stained in order that 
