344 CHONDROPTERYGII. LAMPREYS. 



fish while it is hanging on the line. It is conjec- 

 tured that it does not fasten upon any fish unless it 

 be either dead or entangled on a hook ; but how a 

 fish that is blind is able to find its way to a particu- 

 lar aperture, is a matter not easily explained. The 

 eight barbules or cirri about the mouth are, there is 

 no doubt, delicate organs of touch, by which it ob- 

 tains cognizance of the nature and quality of the 

 substances with which they are in contact ; and its 

 single hooked tooth upon the palate enables it to re- 

 tain its hold till the double row of lingual teeth are 

 brought into action to aid the desire to obtain food."* 

 The Myxine is not very rare, and probably would 

 be found on most of our coasts if carefully looked 

 after. Dr. Johnson informs Mr. Yarrell that it is 

 not uncommon at Berwick ; Mr. Thompson finds it 

 at Belfast, and it is of frequent occurrence on the 

 eastern coast of England. 



Gen. CXXV. Amphioxus. — The only known 

 British species of this genus has of late attracted a 

 good deal of attention on account of the many ano- 

 malies it presents, especially when regarded, as it 

 must necessarily be, as a vertebrate animal. It is 

 named 



(Sp. 253.) A. lanceolatus. The Lancelot. It has 

 occurred several times in the British seas, and is not 

 unknown on the Continent, having been found on 

 the coasts of Norway and Sweden, and also in the 

 Mediterranean. A second species has recently been 

 discovered ofi" Algiers by Mr. Wilde, which, from 

 * Yarrell 's British Fishes, vol. ii. p. 614. 



