38 
YOUNG OF THE BLIND FISH. 
obtained in a stream that passes into the Wyandotte Cave, though 
he entered it by means of a well in the vicinity of the cave, says 
that : — 
“If these Amblyopses be not alarmed they come to the surface 
to feed, and swim in fall sight like white aquatic ghosts. They are 
then easily taken by the hand or net, if perfect silence be pre- 
served, for they are nnconscions of the presence of an enemy 
except through the sense of hearing. This sense is, however, evi- 
dently very acute, for at any noise they turn suddenly downward, 
and hide beneath stones, etc., on the bottom. They must take 
much of their food near the surface, as the life of the depths is 
apparently A^ery sparse. This habit is rendered easy by the -struc- 
ture of the fish, for the mouth is directed upwards, and the head is 
very flat above, thus allowing the mouth to be at the surface.” 
The blind fish has a single ovaiy , in common with several genera 
of viviparous Cyprinodontes. In three female specimens of Am- 
blyopsis which I have opened, the ovary was distended with large 
eggs, but no signs of the embryo could be traced. In these three 
specimens it was the right OAmiy that was developed, and this, as 
in the figure (Plate 2, fig. Ic), Avas b}^ the side of the stomach 
and did not extend beyond it. The number of eggs contained in 
the ovary was not far from one hundred in the specimen figured. 
As the embryos develop, the mass probably pushes further 
back in the cavity and also extends the abdominal walls. That 
the fish is viviparous is proved by the statement made by Mr. 
Thompson before the Belfast Natural History Society,* that one 
of the blind fishes from the caAm, four and a half inches long, 
“was put in Avater as soon as captured, AAhere it gave birth to 
nearly twenty young, Avhich swam about for some time, but soon 
died. These, with the exception of one or two, Avere carefully 
preserAmd, and fifteen of them are now before us [at the meeting, 
I wish they Avere here] , they Avere each four lines in length.” 
It is singular that no mention is made regarding these young, as 
to the presence or absence of eyes, and, as if it was fated that this 
important point should remain unnoticed as long as possible, it is 
equally singular that Dr. Steindachner omitted to examine some 
A^ery young specimens which he receiA^ed from a friend a few 
months since and sent to the Vienna Museum, where they Avill 
remain unexamined until he returns there. I saAV the Doctor only 
Armais and Mag. of Natural History, Vol. xiii, pp. 112, 1814. 
