364 CYCLOSTOMATA. 



FAMILY II— MYXINIDiE. 



Body vermiform : scaleless. Branchial orifice a considerable distance 

 behind the head and opening internally into the sesophagus. No lips. Nasal 

 orifice at the anterior end of the head, which is furnished with four pairs of 

 barbels. The nasal duct, which is provided with cartilaginous rings, perforates 

 into the palate. Along either side of the abdomen is a row of mucous sacs. 

 No spiral valve to the intestine. Ova large and possessing adhesive filaments at 

 both extremities. 



Genus I — Myxine, Linnceus. 



Gastrobranchus, Bloch. 



Definition as in the family. A single external branchial opening on either 

 side, which leads internally by six ducts into as many respiratory sacs. 



Geographical distribution. — North Atlantic, Straits of Magellan and Japan. 



1. Myxine glutinosa, Plate CLXXIX, fig. 3. 



Myxine glutinosa, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 1080 ; Fabr. Fanna Groenl. p. 344 ; 

 Fleming, Brit. An. p. 164 ; Jenyns, Man. p. 523 ; Fries and Ekstr. Skand. Fish. 

 p. 121, t. xxviii; Johnston, Mag. Nat. Hist, vi, 1833, p. 15 ; Templeton, Mag. Nat. 

 Hist. 1837 (2) i, p. 413 ; Yarrell, Brit. Fishes (ed. 3) i, p. 12 ; Swainson, Fishes, 

 ii, p. 338 ; White, Catal. p. 145 ; Nilss. Skand. Fauna, iv, p. 750 ; Kroyer, Danm. 

 Fisk. iii, p. 1068, c. fig. ; Thompson, Nat. Hist. Ireland, iv, p. 267 ; Gray, Cat. 

 Chond. p. 147; Steenstr. CEfv/Dansk. Vid. Selsk. F6rh. 1864, p. 233; Giinther, 

 Catal. viii, p. 510; Collett, Norges Fiske, p. 220 ; Malm, Fauna, p. 637 ; Winther, 

 Prod. Ich. Dan. Mar. p. 62. 



Sleepmarlcen, Gunner, Trond. Hand, ii, p. 250, t. iii. Hvidaal, Strom, Sond. 

 p. 287. Glutinous hag, Pennant, Brit. Zool. (Ed. 1812) iii, p. 109. 



Gastrobranchus caicus, Bloch, t. ccccxiii ; Lacep. i, p. 525 ; Bl. Schn. p. 534, 

 t. civ ; Turton, p. 110 ; Shaw, Nat. Misc. x, pi. ccclxii ; Yarrell, 1. c. (ed. 1) ii, 

 p. 462, c. fig. (ed. 2) ii, p. 612. 



Myxine cceca, Blainv. Fauna Fran, ii, p. 2, t. la. 



Myxine limosa, Girard, Proc Ac. Nat. Sc. Phil. 1858, p. 223. 



Borer, Couch, Fish. Brit. Isles, iv, p. 408, pi. ccxlviii. 



Body vermiform, cylindrical, rounded anteriorly, and slightly compressed and 

 tapering posteriorly. Head obliquely truncated anteriorly, with a large mouth 

 surrounded by three pairs of barbels, while a fourth pair are placed close to the 

 nasal orifice. Eyes — absent, or very rudimentary. Teeth — a single curved tooth 

 on the palate, and two crescentic-shaped rows on the tongue containing eight or 

 nine rather slender teeth in each, the two front ones the stoutest. Fins — a narrow 

 dorsal fin commencing about the middle of the total length and continued round 

 the tail to the vent. Skin scaleless ; two rows of pores along the abdominal 

 surface. Colours — of a pale yellowish or pinkish white. 



Names. — Hag, glutinous hag, owing to this character Linnseus (who at first 

 placed it among the worms) asserted it would turn water into glue, being misled 

 by the viscous fluid which it exudes ; devourer from its habits ; borer from its 

 boring into the bodies of fish ; pirate fish ; termed Eeliart and Pousion Bamper, 

 Moray Firth. 



Habits. — This parasitic fish enters the mouths of such forms of fish (especially 

 of the cod family), as may have been hooked, or fastens itself into wounds or 



