510 MTXINID.E. 



Fam. 2. MYXINID^E. 



Cyclostomata bj-perotreta, Midler, Ahhandl. Ak. Wiss. Berl. 1834, 

 p. 78. 



Body eel-shaped, naked. The smgle nasal aperture 

 is above the mouth, quite at the extremity of the 

 head, which is provided with four pairs of barbels. 

 Mouth without lips. Nasal duct with cartilaginous 

 rings, penetrating the palate. One median tooth on 

 the palate and two comb-like series of teeth on the 

 tongue. Branchial apertures at a great distance from 

 the head. The inner branchial ducts lead into the 

 oesophagus. A series of mucous sacs along each side 

 of the abdomen. Intestine without spiral valve. 

 Eggs large, with a horny case provided with threads 

 for adhesion. 



See Miiller, Abhandl. Ak. Wiss. Berlin, 1834, pp. 65-340, with 

 9 plates ; 1837, pp. 15-48, with 3 plates ; 1838, pp. 171-252, with 

 4 plates ; 1839, pp. 175-303, with 5 plates ; 1843, pp. 109-170, 

 with 5 plates. 



Inhabitants of the seas of the temperate regions of both hemi- 

 spheres ; burrow themselves in other fishes, feeding on their flesh. 



Two ijenera : — 



One braucliial aperture on each side 1. Mi/xine, p. -510. 



Six or more branchial apertures on each side .... 2. Bdellostotna, p. 511. 



1. MYXINE. 



Myxine, L. 

 Gastrobrauchus, Bl. 



One external branchial aperture only on each side of the abdomen, 

 leading by six ducts to the six branchial sacs. 



Northern parts of the Atlantic ; Pacific coasts of temperate South 

 America. 



1. Myxine glutinosa. 



Myxine glutinosa, L. Sijst. Nat. i. p. 1080; Hetzius, Vet. Akad. 

 Hatidl. 1822, p. 233, tab. 3, & 1824, p. 408 ; Abikh/aard, Schrift. 

 Ges. ntrf. Freund. x. p. 93, tab. 4 ; Fabr. Fmm. Groenl. p. 344 ; 

 Flem. Brit. An. p. 523 ; Jmym , 3Ian. p. 523 ; Miiller, Ahhandl. 

 Ak. Wiss. Berlin, 1834; Fries och Ekstr. Skand. Fisk. p. 121, 



