54 



SILVER LAMPREY. P. Fluviatilis. Jenyn?, p. 521. 

 Yarrell's Br. F., vol. 2, p. 454. Common in spring; but 

 it seems to quit our rivers in summer. 



PLANER'S LAMPREY. P. Planeri. Jenyns, p. 522. 

 Yarrell's Br. F., vol. 2, p. 457. I have obtained speci- 

 mens in April from the Trelawney branch of the Looe river, 

 and probably it is not uncommon, having been confounded 

 with the Silver Lamprey. 



MUD LAMPREY. Mr. Yarrell supposes this fish to be 

 the same as the Pride, of which a figure is given Br. 1%. 

 vol 2, p. 459; I willingly yield to his judgment. 



BORER. Mi/xina Glutinosa* Jenyns, p. 523. Yarrell's 

 Br. F., vol. 2, p. 462. Rare. 



LANCELET. Amphioxus Lanceolatus* Yarrell's Br. F., 

 vol. 2, p. 468. 



As every thing belonging to this singular little fish, hitherto 

 found only in Cornwall, must be interesting to Naturalists, I 

 here insert some correction of Mr. YarrelTs account • that 

 excellent observer having fallen into some oversight concern- 

 ing it. When alive ibis fish had a very evident, though 

 diaphanous fin, extending from near the snout, round the 

 extremity of the tail, which it encircled in the manner of the 

 same organ in the Eel, and terminating at the vent; and the 

 appearance in the engraving is probably owing to the influ- 

 ence of the preserving liquor which has caused the mem- 

 brane to contract. The rays of this fin are arched transver- 

 sedly, in a very singular manner. The specimen was not 

 found in a pool, but lay buried in a small quantity of sand, 

 at about 50 feet from the receding tide ; and on turning over 

 a small flat stone that was on the sand, the tail of the fish 

 appeared exposed. When moved it exhibited signs of great 

 activity, so that the head could not readily be distinguished 

 from the tail ; and as there can be no doubt that the fish had 

 sought the shelter of the sand in which it was found, there is 

 little question that such is its usual habitation : a circumstance 

 rendered still more probable by its want of eyes. It was dis- 

 covered on the 21st of December, 1831, after an heavy storm, 

 that had torn it from its native situation, which from its rarity 

 we may suppose to be in deep water. In February, 1838, I 

 obtained two other specimens, which had been thrown up by 

 a tempest. The largest measured 2 inches and 3-10 in length, 

 which enabled me to discern still more of the internal struc- 

 ture of this fish. 



