VERTEBRATA. 247 



the side of the body, called the lateral line. Each scale 

 is perforated by a tube which runs along the whole length 

 of the body, and is connected with cavities in the head 

 which secrete the mucus for lubricating the scales, and 

 enabling the fish to move with little resistance. 



Order I. PharyngobrancJis, (pharynx, the pharynx, and 

 bragchia, gills.) This contains but one member, the 

 Lancelet, (Amphioxus lanceolatus^) which burrows in the 

 mud of the Mediterranean Sea. It is such an eccentric 

 creature, without skeleton, limbs, brain, heart, lym- 

 phatics, or red blood, that it can hardly be considered a 

 Vertebrate at all. Yet, because it has a persistent noto- 

 chord, evolutionists have made much ado over it, and it 

 figures largely in their imaginary Phylogenies. (Chap. Ill, 

 Sec. 8.) 



Order 2. Marsipobranchs, (inarsipos, a pouch.) They 

 have a cartilaginous skeleton and sac-like gills, but no 

 scales, limbs, or lower jaw, and only one nasal organ. 

 They comprise the eel-like Lampreys and Hags. (Fig. 

 144.) The mouth is round and sucker-like ; and in the 



FIG. 144. Lamprey. 



Hags (Myxince) contains a single large recurved, serrated 

 fang for piercing the bodies of their prey. Respiration is 



