The Yazoo City weekly Whig. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 18??-1855, 1854-02-03

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1854.
ViviparOuns Fish.

Among the many recent and rich develop
ments Of California not one perhaps has
been NOR unexpected to. the scientific world
than that Of the extraordinary Fishes discoy-
cred by Midshipman Alonzo G. Jackson, in
San salita Bay. a notice Of them will be
found in the November number Of the A.
merican. Journal Of Science written by Pro-
fessor Louis Agassiz,
Fishes as class have been long and well
known to be oviparous From little Min
now Of the mountain streams 10 the count
less myriads of the mighty deep with few
and rare exceptions, they follow one nniver-
sal rule. It is true that in ancient times,
and indeed for long ages succeeding, the
Whale, and the Dolphin, with the other spe-
cies Of the order Cetacea, were considered,
even BY eminent naturalists, as fishes though
known to be Myaparous. In more modern
days, however. this opinion came to be
greatly disputed among scientific men; some
as the great Linneus placing them among
the Mammalia since they were ascertained
to possess the heart, lungs and other inter
nal organs Of quadrupeds; others following
Ray and Willoughby still chasing them
with fishes on account of the element in
which they lived and their power Of
progressive motion there. The theory Of
Linueus has however long since prevailed;
the Whale. in spite Of popular opinion is no
longer o FISH, but Mammal--while the 9th
erfew exceptations to the general rule have
been pronounced BY naturalists to be oyiva-
prous. The discovery then of viviParous
fish is pan event in science. Whether this
new and peculiar type, lately found by Mr.
Jackson in the waters of California, be yivi
parous or ovo-viviparous it remrins for flu
ture investigation to decide.
We give the account of his discovery in
his own words. He says in his letter to Pro-
lessor Agassiz:
ION the 7th Of June rose early in the
morning for the purpose Of taking a mess of
fish for breakfast, pulled to the usual place
baited with crabs and CONNER eed fishing,
the wind blowing too strong for profitable
angling. nevertheless on the FIRST and second
casts, fastened the two fishes. male and fe-
male that l write about, and such were their
Iliveliness and strength that they endanger-
ed my slight trout rod. however succeed
ed in bagging it though half an hour sub
sequent work got not even nibble from
either this or any other species Of fish. /
determined to change the bait to put upon
my hook portion Of fish already caught,
and cut for that purpose into the largest Of
the two, when what surprise tOsee coming
from the opening thus made small live
fish. This at first supposed to be prey
which the fish had swallowed but on fur
ther opening the fish / was vastly astonish-
ed to find next to the back Of The fish and
slightly attached to it, by long very
light violetbag. SO clear and SO transparent
that could already distinguish through It
the shape, the color and formation Of a null
titude Of fishes with which it was we'll filed.
/ took ii on board and when opened the
bag took therefrom eighteen more Of the
young fishes precisely like in size,shape and
color, the first had accidentally extracted.
The mother was very large round her cen
tire q Of very dark brown color, approaching
about the back and on the fms q black color
and remarkably vigorous fish. The young
(which took from her we're in shape save as
to rotundity perfect miniatures ofthe moth
Ter, formed Ike her and Of Che same general
proportions, except the old one was much
broader ana wider between the top Of the
dorset and yentral Ems in proportion 70 her
length than the young we're. AS to Che
color they we're ID AL like The mother though
1.-The shades were many degreesi lighter.
They had too the same peculiar mouth, the
same position and shape 81 The Ems and Che
same eyes and gills and there can not re.
main is tie mind 81 any one Who sees the
4 fish ID the same state that did, single
doubt that these young were the offspring g
The fsh from whose body { look them and
that This species 81 lish gives birth to be-
Young alive and perfectly formed and adapt
ca Is seek iss own livelihood ID Che water
Ihe number q Tie yeu1g n shs beg VII
nlnelsen and every one IS brisk and livel,
Is buckle Of salt water as iftbey had beef
or months accustomed e Il.