Abstract
THE report on the Danish Oceanographical Expeditions, 1908–10, to the Mediterranean and Adjacent Seas, under the superintendence of Jons. Schmidt, No. 2, contains two memoirs, one by Dr. Kyle, on flat fishes, and one by Dr. Schmidt, on experiments with drift-bottles. Dr. Kyle's paper is an important contribution, and deals with the following genera in a very comprehensive way:—Arnoglossus, Bothus, Solea, and Symphurus. The much disputed question as to the number of species of Arnoglossus occurring in European seas is very elaborately discussed, and Dr. Kyle's conclusions differ in several respects from those of previous authors. He recognises five species, the specific names being used, however, in a different sense from that which has been adopted by recent writers on the subject. The species are Arnoglossus grohmanni, Bonap., non auctorum, A. thori, nov. nom., A. laterna, Will., A. imperialis, Raf., and A. rüppelli, Cocco. Of these A. thori is the species which has generally been called in this country A. grohmanni. Dr. Kyle discusses not only the adult characters, but also the larval and post-larval stages of this genus and of the other genera of which he treats. The paper is well illustrated with text figures and plates, and will be of the greatest value to future workers. An excellent bibliography of the subject is added. Dr. Schmidt's experiments with drift-bottles show that there is an easterly drift of the surface water from the entrance of the Mediterranean, especially along the north coast of Africa, so that water from the Atlantic is being constantly carried into the Mediterranean. The velocity of this drift may reach eighteen to twenty miles a day.
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Marine Investigations . Nature 93, 201–202 (1914). https://doi.org/10.1038/093201b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/093201b0