138 



VERTEBRATES: FISHES. 



Lamprey ascends rivers, and piles up heaps of stones, 



among which it lays its eggs. See Figures 243, 244. 



The Amphioxus, or Lancelet, is about two inches 



long. It is the lowest and simplest in structure of all 



Fig. 242. — Torpedo. 



Fig. 241. — Ray, or Skate. 



Fig. 243, — Lamprey. 



Fig. 244. — Hagfish, or Myxine. Fig. 245. — Amphioxus, or Lancelet. 



the Vertebrates. It is a beautiful, transparent little 

 creature, and is found in the sandy bottom of Chesa- 

 peake Bay and in similar shallow, quiet waters in 

 tropical and sub-tropical seas. See Figure 245. 



