TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 83 



been ruptured by the pressure of the liquid within 

 them. 



"This liquid is the poison. If one touches the 

 extremity of the spine with the finger" (Eene here 

 made a gesture indicating that to have done it once 

 was quite sufficient) " one soon sees exude at the tip 



SEA-LAMPREY (Petromyzon marinus, Lin.). 



a limpid drop, of a bluish colour when the animal is 

 living, but opalescent after it has been dead some 

 hours. As to the nature of the poison, there is reason 

 for believing that it produces nervous spasms." 



" How annoying ! And I, too, who was taking so 

 well to zoology ! However, I have now the right to 

 consider myself a martyr to science ; and meanwhile 



