116 C ST. Ill LAIR E ON THE FAHAKA OF THE NIXE. 



The figures containing the anatomical details will render evident 

 all the facts which we have stated, 



^Fig. I. Fig. 2. 



Fig. 1. shows the abdominal organs in their natural position : all 

 the surface A is the interior of the stomach ; B is the continua- 

 tion of it, except that, instead of forming a large apron which would 

 cover all the intestines, it has been cut off, detached, and rejected, 

 in order that the abdominal organs may be seen. 



Fig. 2. shows, on the right, a part A of the coats of the stomach, 

 and on the left, the inferior layer or the muscles of the abdomen. 



This consists of two muscles L and M. The muscle M arises 

 from the great straight one, and has its attachments posteriorly, 

 some to the joints (osselets) of the spine, and the others in less num- 

 ber to those which sustain the vent fin : it becomes lost forward, on 

 a tendinous band j two lines (aponeuroses) traverse it and divide it 

 into three nearly equal portions, while the fibres of which it is com- 

 posed become collected, lengthwise, into bundles, to the number of 

 from seven to ten. 



The other muscle L takes its origin behind, at the last tendinous 

 band of the former, and is carried obliquely upon the gills ; its 

 fibres are closer together than in M. 



A cellular tissue, rather abundant, covering these two muscles and 



