THE MYXINE. 



347 



A VERY remarkable species of lampern, termed the SAND PRIDE, or MUD LAMPREY 

 (Ammocictes branehidlis) is found in many rivers, and has sometimes been mistaken 

 for the young of the sea lamprey. 



It may, however, be distinguished by the form of the mouth, which is of a horse-shoe 

 shape, and incapable of adhesion like that of the fishes belonging to the preceding 

 genus. The Sand Pride, although tolerably common, is not very often seen, owing 

 to its habit of burying itself in the muddy or sandy beds of rivers. It is taken 

 plentifully near Oxford, and is common in the upper parts of the Thames. Its color 

 is yellowish brown, the latter tint preponderating on the back and the former benea.th. 

 It is a very small species, seldom exceeding six or seven inches in length. 



The MYXINE, or GLUTINOUS HAG-FISH, is so remarkably worm-like in its form and 

 general appearance that it was classed with the annelids by several authors, and was 

 only placed in its proper position among the fishes after careful dissection. 



POUCHED LAMPHREY.-Geofr/a Australis. 



The Myxine is seldom taken when at large in the sea, but is captured while engaged 

 in devouring the bodies of other fish, to which it is a fearful enemy in spite of its 

 innocuous appearance. It has a custom of getting inside the cod and similar fishes, and 

 entirely consuming the interior, leaving only the skin and the skeleton remaining. 

 The fishermen have good reason to detest the Myxine, for it takes advantage of the 

 helpless state in which the cod-fish hangs on the hoop, makes its way into the interior, 

 and if the fish should happen to be caught at the beginning of a tide, will leave but 

 little flesh on the bones. The cod thus hollowed are technically called " robbed " fish. 

 Six Myxines have been found wkhin the body of a single haddock. 



The name of Glutinous Hag-fish is derived from the enormous amount of mucous 

 secretion which the Myxine has the power of pouring, from a double row of apertures, 

 set along the whole of the under surface, from the head to the tail. It is said that 

 the fish is accustomed to envelop itself in a cloud of glutinous matter whenever it 

 is alarmed, and under cover of this substance to escape the view of. its enemies ; thus 

 presenting a curious parallel to the well-known habit of the sepia and the aplysia, 



