much more than one half were known to conchologists, notwithstanding their assiduous labours, teaches us how much remains to be done before we can assume that the record of Marine Zoology is complete. Let us compare the vast expanse of the sea-bed in the North Atlantic with that small fringe of the coast on both sides of it which has yet been partially explored, and consider, with reference to the dredging just mentioned, what are the prospects of our ever becoming acquainted with all the inhabitants of the deep throughout the globe. We believe, however, that a thorough examination of the newer Tertiaries would materially assist us in the inquiry, and such examination is feasible and comparatively easy."-P. 183.

The value and importance of these dredgings do not consist wholly, or even principally, in the number of species discovered or the novelty of their forms; they have a teaching higher than this-they correct and eradicate erroneous impressions, and show us how futile are the hypothetical limits assigned to oceanic life, and the boundaries affixed to the recent and fossil organisms of the sea: some of these speculations had so captivated and enthralled the credulous and superficial that they seemed to have attained the dignity of facts: without undervaluing in the least degree the additions made to our list of species, these rectifications, if I may so call them, are the greatest boon, and we cannot too heartily thank the men who have devoted their time, their energies, and their abilities, not only to the discovery of fact, but to that destruction of hypothesis which these facts involve.

The Depths of the Sea' will inevitably give an impetus to the reaction in favour of fact, and will discountenance that overweening love of speculation which has laid so many stumbling-blocks in the onward march of science and of truth. If the mind is occupied either in devising, accepting or refuting hypotheses, it is obvious it has little opportunity for acquiring, digesting and utilising fact. The work is not a mere evanescent production, to be laid aside as soon as read; its use will increase with the using; and however much we may prize it for ourselves, we may confidently anticipate that our children will hereafter prize it more; they will find the information it contains absolutely necessary to the just appreciation of that charming institution now happily becoming so general, the Marine Aquarium,

EDWARD NEWMAN,

The Sleep of Fishes. By W. R. HUGHES, Esq., F.L.S.

REFERRING to your notes (Zool. S. S. 3878), the following observations may be interesting at this time, as I do not remember to have seen anything similar recorded.

When at Tenby, in July, 1866, I was in the habit of visiting a certain rock-pool, by candle-light, late at night, usually between eleven and twelve o'clock, to see if the Actinia were expanded. The rock-pool in question is situated on the south-west side of St. Catherine's Rock, and is probably well known to collectors. It is a few feet up the rock, approached by rough natural steps, and the pool abruptly opens at right angles through a water-worn fissure in the rock, out of which the pool itself is scooped by the action of the sea. As far as I remember, it is about the size of an The water was of pellucid clearness, and at the time I mention the sides of the pool were studded with numbers of the lovely opaque white snowy anemone (Sagartia nivea), all fully expanded, and looking like daisies in early spring.

ordinary foot-pan.

On one of my visits I noticed there were several small fishes at the bottom of this pool,-blennies and rocklings, but I forget the number of each species. As every one who has attempted to catch these little fishes is perfectly aware, very few surpass them in their successful efforts at concealment. If one is found in a pool no bigger than a soup-plate, and there are only three or four stones in it, Master Blenny is sure to wriggle himself under them, or if there is but one crevice he is sure to ensconce himself in it. And his friend the rockling is equally artful in his proceedings. Imagine, therefore, my astonishment, on the occasion I mention, when by the light of the candle I saw these little fishes perfectly still at the bottom of the pool,-not darting off to find a corner, as they would in the daylight, nor appearing to notice me in any way. I pulled up my sleeve, and putting my hand quietly to the bottom took the whole of the fishes, one by one, and held them softly in the other hand. They neither moved nor showed any signs of resistance, nor attempted to escape, but seemed either asleep or temporarily paralyzed by the light, just as some birds are "scared" by the sudden appearance of a lantern, and may be captured without difficulty under the influence of the light. I returned them to the water, and they resumed their old places at

the bottom of the pool. I repeated the experiment several times during my stay, and always with the same results.

The observations that follow have been made on fishes in my own marine aquarium.

Regarding the wrasses, also mentioned in your notes above referred to, I have three in my aquarium at the present time,— of the species Labrus maculatus,-and in addition to the queer positions which you mention they assume during the night,-such as some are on their sides, some seem to be jammed in the crevices of a rock, some seem to be standing on their noses, and some on their tails,"I notice that they sometimes indulge in these singular attitudes during the day time, after they have been fed, just as some people take a nap after dinner! These attitudes are most extraordinary, and at first sight I thought the fishes were dead: the dorsal fin was rigid and motionless, and the fishes seemed, from their flabby, pallid appearance,-if I may use such an expression in reference to fishes,-to indicate, as in the higher vertebrates, a diminished power in the functions of circulation and respiration during repose. What is also remarkable, they usually select the same spots to rest in. No later than the 1st of this month, on which day I received your current number, I disturbed a wrasse from his place of retirement, and three times he resumed the identical position within a quarter of an hour!

The blennies usually select the same place to rest in at night, wedging themselves in a crevice, or more frequently lying on a piece of rock entirely out of water. So constant are they to these spots that I could direct a stranger where to find any particular individual at night in the tank.

The spotted gunnel or butter-fish (Muranoides guttata), although allied to the blennies, exhibits, as far as my observation of him in the aquarium goes, very few of the habits of that genus. For instance, he has none of that tameness and familiarity which characterize the blennies; neither is he so foud of raising himself on a rock above the water-mark as they are. I am inclined to think he is nocturnal; for during the day he remains partially coiled up round a weed or stone, and in the evening glides about with a very graceful snake-like motion and takes his food, striking at it just as a viper wounds an enemy.

The two-spotted sucker (Lepidogaster bimaculatus), a very old friend of mine, remains anchored by his ventral sucker, with his

body curved, as my friend Mr. W. A. Lloyd remarks, to diminish the leverage,―in one particular shell (an old valve of a Cardium), and, although there are others in the tank, he never forsakes this for them, and if he is temporarily dislodged, waddles about with his peculiar tadpole-like progression until he finds his old quarters again.

The worm pipe-fish (Syngnathus lumbriciformis) is also rather attached to a particular locality, and may frequently be found under the same stone in the tank. When he does, however, condescend to take a swim and show that wonderful screw-propeller-like dorsal fin of his, what a beautiful object it is, strongly reminding one of the appearance of ciliary motion. It is a timid fish, and, like the Hippocampus, seems to have a somewhat plaintive expression of coun

tenance.

The gray mullet, on the contrary, exhibit no such feelings of attachment: quiet and sedate during the day, with their noses sometimes out of the water, appearing to "nibble the air," at night they are all activity, swimming round the tank after each other in delicate curves, the silvery scales of their abdomen flashing like drawn swords in the sunlight.

Birmingham, 3rd February, 1874.

W. R. HUGHES.

Postscript.-Closely bearing on, or connected with, the question. as to the sleep of fishes, is another interesting subject, as to their torpidity in the winter months. During the severe frost which set in on the night of the 8th instant and continued until the 12th, the fishes in my aquaria remained in a lethargic state and refused food, or took it but very sparingly, although frequently offered. The wrasses assumed the same peculiar positions and conditions as mentioned above, the gray mullet lost their activity, and sought the bottom of the tank; even the blennies ceased to be familiar, and secreted themselves in crevices near their old spots. But immediately a change of temperature took place, on the 12th instant, followed by rain, all the fishes resumed their wonted activity, and took food freely.

Zoologists are much indebted to the Editor for bringing forward the interesting question as to the sleep of fishes; and it is to be hoped that, with the great facilities now afforded at the Crystal Palace, Brighton and other public Aquariums, this and other equally interesting problems in their life-histories will be solved.

13th February, 1874.

W. R. H.

Notes on the Birds of New Zealand.

By T. H. POTTS, Esq., F.L.S.*

(Continued from Zool. S. S. 3624.)

Kingfisher (Halcyon vagans, Gray).†-This valuable insectivorous bird, the "kotare" of the natives and the "kingfisher" of the settlers, is never molested here: it remains with us throughout the year, and in greater numbers than formerly; constant familiarity has enabled us to acquire further knowledge of the ways of the halcyon. Rather late in August, when the brown-skinned konini begins to deck its bare sprays with pendulous flowers, when the head of the straight-stemmed kowhai is already crowned with racemes of golden blossoms, integratio amoris, or rather the beginning of courtship, seems to occupy a share of the time which is not required to obtain the means of satisfying the cravings of the halcyon's somewhat exacting appetite. Observation has rather led us to the belief that the female takes the initiative in these amorous advances. Whilst watching several birds which were busily engaged in snatching up and bearing off Crustacea from the sea-beach, in which employment the male birds displayed most activity, usually getting three or four crabs to one picked up by a female bird: a female would perch herself close to a male after one of his successful darts; all unmoved, he rapped his prey on his rocky stand and proceeded to gulp it down, apparently unconscious of the blandishments of the would-be charmer. Through the month of September we have noticed similar instances of insensibility or coyness on the part of the males, under circumstances when the females have had little chance of being favoured with some choice prey as a gage d'amour. Forwardness on the part of "the sex" is not without precedent; we have noticed that the nuptial plumage of the female spotted shag (Phalacrocorax punctatus) reaches its full development before that of the male; frequently one may observe the red plume-like stigmas of the hazel on the spray where the male catkins hang immature. During last season we knew of several nests that contained altogether nearly forty eggs. At each breeding-place that had been excavated in a bank or wall the

From the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,' vol. v., but kindly communicated by the author.

+ See an extract about this bird in the 'Zoologist' for 1872 (S. S. 3087).