New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-14
iiodon. Was there a wsy to come nearer

diOdon. Was there o way to come nearer
to correct solution Of my doubts
AS had in former years made a some
what extensive study of the pigment cells
OF the skin in variety Of young fishes: !
now resOrted to this method to indentlfy
my embryos. Happily we had on board
several pelagic fishes alive, which could at
ford means of comparison, but unfOrtu-
nately the steamer was shaking too much
and rolling too heavily for microscopic Oh
servatiOn of even moderately high powers.
Nothing, however, should be left untried,
and the very first comparison / made Sc
cured the desired result The pigment cells
of young chironectec pictus proved iden-
teal with our little embryos. 1t thus
stands as we'll authenticated fact that the
common pelagic chironectes of the Atlantic
manned chronicles pictus by Cuvier),
builds nest for its eggs in which the
progeny is wrapped up with the materials of
which the nest itself is composed, and as
these materials are living gulf weed, the
fish cradle, rocking upon the deep ocean, is
carried along as an undying arbor, afford
ing at the same time protection and after
ward food for its living freight
This marvellous story acquires additional
interest if we now take into consideration
what are the characteristic peculiarities of
the chronicles. AS its name indicates il
has fins like hands: that is to say, the pec-
tOral fins are supported by kind of pro-
longed wristlike appendages, and the rays
of the ventrals are not unlike rude fingers.
With these limbs these fishes have long
been known to attach themselves to sea-
weeds, and rather to walk than to swim in
their natural element But now that we
have become acquainted with their mode If
reproduction, it may fairly be asked if the
most important use to which their peculiar
mt 70 ,pt ,l,ol
in building their Lest!
The discovery Of this nest was quite ac-
cidental, but not so the examination of the
large masses OF the floating weeds which
we met as soon as we entered the waters of
the gulf stream. l had made it my chief
business to examine the floating sargassum
with the intention of solving, if possible.
the question of its origin. l had delivered
lecture to all on board, in which was
stated all knew upon the subject and what
l wanted to ascertain further, thus hoping
to enlist the interest of the officers of the
ship and of my scientific fellow travellers in
the object OF my search. l had told them
that did not believe that the gulf weed
could multiply while floating, even though
the floating branches might enlarge had
suggested the gathering of the smallest
branches of the weed with view to ascer.
tanning whether not all, even the very
uoiC siSuo VI DceO Torn
violently away from fixed attachment
From that day not a patch of gulf weed
passed our ship within reach that was not
looked at and hauled up if it
presented any peculiar appearance, and no
doubt have my reward for that lecture in |
the discovery Of the nest of chronicles.
There remains one closing chapter to add |
to this story. May some naturalist, be- |
Gained among the gulf. weed, have the good |
fortune of witnessing the process by which |
the nest is built. From an chronological |
point of view these little fishes are quite in
terestins. In the first place the embryonal
vertical fin, which extends along the whole
back in the fish embryOs thus far known.
begins very far behind in the young chiro-
lectes, and does not exist upon the neck and
back. In the second place, the position of
the heart is very peculiar. Instead of lying
1t the junction of the yolk bag with the
lead. it occupies low position in the front
part of the yOlk.
All the officers Of the Hassler are indie.
atigable in their efforts to help our investi-
cations. and even the men show useful in
crest in our proceedings. We have Just
cached st. Thomas, SO that l have nothing
o add as to observations made here Ever
ruly your friend, L. AGASSIZ.