. 
TEREDO NAVALIS IN NOVA SCOTIA —- MURPHY. 357 
teenth, and the last two between the twenty-second and 
twenty-third, or between the twenty-third and twenty-fourth 
heemal spines, in other words upon the twenty-third or twenty- 
fourth centrum, (I have specimens of both before me), in this 
ease the last interhzemal spine is very short and does not reach 
the extremity of its posterior heemal spine. 
72. The Lophius has no ribs. 
In conclusion, I would mention that the foregoing paper when 
read, was illustrated, by the disarticulated bones of the skull, 
&e., as well as a skeleton of a Lophius, together with the disar- 
ticulated bones of the skull, and a skeletal head and shoulder- 
girdle of a codfish (Gadus morrhua). 
ArT. VII.—ON THE RAVAGES OF THE TEREDO NAVALIS, AND LIM- 
NORIA LIGNORUM, ON PILES AND SUBMERGED TIMBER 
tN Nova Scotia, AND THE MEANS BEING ADOPTED IN 
OTHER COUNTRIES TO PREVENT THEIR ATTACKS. By 
Martin Murpny, Esq., Provincial Engineer. 
(Read Monday evening, 13th March, £882.) 
AMONG the questions which interest the engineer in the Mari- 
time Provinces of the Dominion of Canada, there are none of 
greater importance than the means whereby the ravages of the 
Teredo Navalis can be checked or prevented. I think I may 
say that here, as in many other instances, where the opera- 
tions of nature interfere with the designs of man, we can 
only remedy these difficulties by a precise knowledge of their 
causes, a knowledge which may enable us, if not to check, at 
least to avoid, some of the evil consequences. We know 
that innumerable boring animals establish themselves in the 
lifeless trunk of the piles and other submerged timbers of our 
wharves, piercing holes in all directions into their interior, 
like so many augers, penetrating the timber in every direction, 
until they actually destroy its solidity, and dissolve its connec- 
