ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 621 
body-lengths on change of environmental conditions, but in the reverse 
direction by water filtered through sand, water exposed to sunlight, and 
water previously heated to 100° C. 
The specific gravity and purity of the aquarium water vary but little 
at different times of the year. The salinity is about a hundredth part 
greater than that of open sea-water. 
Endolymphatic Apparatus of Eishes.* * * § — Herr Szymon Sidoriak has 
made some observations on the development of the ear and its parts in 
embryos of Bhodeus amarus, and finds that not only do the conditions 
observed there confirm Nusbaum’s views as to the morphology of the 
parts in Cyprinus carpio, but that the endolymphatic apparatus is more 
fully developed in Bhodeus than in the former. The special points 
would appear to be the development of a cross connection — the ductus 
endolymphaticus — between the two recessus labyrinthi, and, associated 
with this cross canal, the development of a large unpaired median sac, 
and lateral paired sacs. The last are absent in the carp, though the spaces 
which they occupy in the minnow are there clearly indicated. 
Identification of Artificially Hatched Eish.| — Mr. H. C. Bumpus 
refers to the many millions of young fish which have been “ planted ” 
in various localities by the United States Fish Commission. The 
“ planting ” is followed by increase, but how can it be shown that the 
fish appearing in increased numbers are really the adults of the young 
artificially produced ? To mark the fry is out of the question, but it is 
possible that the fry mark themselves by variational differences which 
may be detected. In a given area the “ curve of distribution ” for some 
native species may be determined in reference to fin-rays, scale-rows, 
number of vertebrae, &c. Secondly, the same may be done in another 
locality from which the “ brood-fish ” are to be taken. Thirdly, after the 
“planted fish” have had time to mature, new curves may be plotted for 
the first locality. The relation of these new curves to those first made 
will show whether the re-stocking has had any effect. Various objections 
to this ingenious proposal are considered. 
Vertebral Teeth of Dasypeltis.J — Prof. L. Kathariner has made a 
detailed study of the egg-breaking apparatus in Dasypeltis scabrci. The 
hypapophyses which are important are especially those from 22 to 26 ; 
their tissue is true bone and without enamel ; they lie in connective- 
tissue pockets with their points projecting freely. Behind the oeso- 
phagus the canal narrows abruptly, so that the broken fragments of 
egg-shells do not pass down. In a young specimen (38 cm. in length), 
which had not yet begun the adult diet, the teeth of the mouth-cavity 
were relatively large, and the constriction mentioned above was un- 
developed. In spite of the retrogression of the teeth in the adult, the 
typical buccal glands remain well developed. 
Larynx of Amphibians.§ — Dr. Ernst Goffert, in an elaborate paper, 
discusses the structure and development of the larynx in Amphibians. 
Apart from anatomical details, the chief point is to show that the 
* Anat. Anzeig., xv. (1898) pp. 93-8 (4 figs.), 
f Amer. Natural., xxxii. (1898) pp. 407-11 (2 figs.), 
i Zool. Jalirb. (Abth. Anat.), xi. (1898) pp. 501-18 (1 pi.). 
§ Morph. Jahrb., xxvi. (1898) pp. 282-329 (4 pis. and 5 figs.). 
