626 PETROMYZIDE. 



vertebral column, the transparency, and the thin flexible 

 skeleton of the animal being external." 



At the time of writing this Mr. Wilde was not aware of 

 the dissections and consequent conclusions of others. 



Searching BeckwitlVs enlarged edition of Blount's Tenures, 



o s 



I found those that here follow ; which, as they refer to fishes 

 or fishing, may be considered entitled to a place in this 

 work. 



" In the simplicity of older times, when gold and silver 

 were scarce, the household of the king was supported by 

 provisions furnished from his demesnes. By degrees the 

 servants here employed obtained a fixed tenure of the es- 

 tates, rendering certain services, and supplying certain provi- 

 sions. Many lands were from time to time granted on con- 

 dition of yielding such supplies ; but these reservations were 

 small, and many of them only to be rendered when the king 

 travelled into the country where the land lay. In some, 

 special care was taken that he should not make this service 

 burthensome by coming too often. 



" Ayhsbury. William, son of William of Alesbury, 

 holds three yard-lands of our lord the king in Alesbury, in 

 the county of Bucks, by the serjeanty of paying three Eels 

 to our lord the king, when he should come to Alesbury in 

 winter. 



" Conway Castle Is now held of the crown by Owen 

 Holland, Esq. at the annual rent of six shillings and eight 

 pence, and a dish of fish to Lord Hertford as often as he 

 passes through the town. 



" Degemue and Eglosderi, county of Cornwall. Wil- 

 liam Trevelle holds one Cornish acre of land in Degemue and 

 Eglosderi, by the serjeanty of finding one boat and nets for 



