BLIND GASTROBRANCHUS. 



205 



European specimens is from four to six inches, 

 but in the Indian ocean it appears to arrive at a 

 far superior size, nearly equalling in this respect 

 the common Eel. In its general appearance it 

 bears a near resemblance to the Lampries, with 

 which by Kalm, its first describer, it has been asso- 

 ciated. It is remarkable for the total want of eyes, 

 not the least vestige of any such organs being dis- 

 coverable by the most attentive examination : the 

 mouth, which is situated beneath, as in the Lamp- 

 ries, is of an oblong form: on each side are two 

 beards or cirri, and on the upper part four: in 

 front of the top of the head is a small spout-hole, 

 furnished with a valve, by which it can at pleasure 

 be closed : the teeth, which are situated very deep 

 in the mouth, and are of an orange-colour, as iji 

 the Lamprey, are disposed on each side into a 

 double row, in form of a pectinated bone; each 

 upper row consisting of nine and each lower row of 

 eight teeth ; and in the middle of the roof of the 

 mouth is a single, sharp-pointed, and curved tooth : 

 no nostrils are discoverable : the body is destitute 

 of scales, lateral line, and every kind of fin, except 

 that which forms the tail : this fm is shallow, and 

 commencing at the lower part of the back, runs 

 round the extremity of the body, and is continued 

 beneath as far as the vent : the extremity of the 

 body, where it is surrounded by the caudal fm, is 

 taper or pointed : beneath the body, from head to 

 tail, runs a double row of pretty conspicuous, equi-r 

 distant pores, through which, on pressure, exsudes 

 a viscid fluid, and at somewhat more than a third 



