ODD FORMS AMONG FISHES. 



529 



expect to find such a fish as the chimsera (Fig. 9) an animal whose 

 general appearance, it is true, is somewhat shark-like, but which, if 

 possible, is more strange and monstrous than any of the sharks or 



Fig. 8. Shark's Egg, with a Portion of the Covering removed. 



rays ? This curious arctic fish, which attains the length of four feet, 

 is not only exceedingly remarkable in its general appearance, but it is 

 especially remarkable in its structure having no upper jaw, the four 



Fig. 9.- Northern Chim.era, or King of Herrings (Chimcera monstrosO). 



upper teeth being supported on the front of the skull, and only two 

 teeth in the lower jaw, and having no backbone, this important part 

 being represented only by the most rudimentary structure, such as 



Fig. 10. Lepidosiken. 



exists in the ordinary embryonic vertebrate, and which is known 

 under the name of chorda dorsalis. 

 VOL. XI. 34 



