MYXINE. 309 



CHAPTER XX. 

 CHORDA TA — ( Continued). 



Fig. 223. — Lateral View of Myxine 

 Glutinosa X \. {Ad nat.) 



^/ // 



3t ^ (A en Branchial 



^^ u q Aperture. 



Tail Fin. 



Myxine glutinosa (the hag-fish) is a small eel-lihe 

 animal occurring off our coasts. Its body is elongated and 

 cylindrical, about i foot long. The hind end or tail is 

 slightly flattened laterally, and is encircled by a simple 

 caudal fin which is part of a continuous median fin 

 running dorsally and ventrally for some distance along 

 the body. The skin is usually of a pale dull-pink hue and 

 is intensely slimy. The slime is secreted by a lateral row of 

 slime-glands which pour out enormous quantities of the 

 adhesive material. The front end tapers to a snout, below 



* The members of this sub-phylum are often called "Vertebrates" in contrast 

 with the rest of the animal kingdom, termed *' Invertebrates." 



