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 

 haemal spines, in other words upon the twenty-third or twenty- 

 fourth centrum, (I have specimens of both before me), in this 

 case the last interhsemal spine is very short and does not reach 

 the extremity of its posterior haemal 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, 

 &c, 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 (Gad us morrhua). 



Art. VII. — On the Ravages of the Teredo Navalis, and Lim- 

 noria llgnorum, on plles and submerged timber 

 in Nova Scotia, and the means being adopted in 

 other Countries to Prevent their Attacks. By 

 Martin Murphy, Esq., Provincial Engineer. 



(Read Monday evening, 13th March, 1882.) 



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- 



