412 
BORKR, 
length; the opening longitudinal, large, its length being the 
half of the height of the body. Rays of the fin very numerous, 
slender; those along the ventral line directed backward, on the 
back curved, and at their points turned almost forward. There 
is another fin, which may be termed preanal, between the vent 
and the gill openings, formed of a fold of the skin, which 
at its base contains a large number of very short rays, but 
stout and blunt. While the fish is alive this fold of the skin 
is moderately high, but when the body is distended with roe, 
or w'hen preserved in spirit, it becomes contracted and low. 
The lateral line is at the sides of the belly, and contains large 
glands, one hundred and eight in number, just below the skin, 
but lifting it up and forming a beaded row, with an open pore 
on the upper side, from which the slime is poured out. There 
are no distinct teeth in the jaw, but some are deeply concealed 
within the mouth. At its upper part is a single slender, 
strong, and curved tooth, w'hich is broad at the root and 
covered with a fold of skin. The lower teeth are in regular 
longitudinal rows, bent on each side, and two rows answering 
to each other. In the outer row are eight, with sometimes 
another of small size; in the inner row from eight to ten, the 
two foremost stouter than the others. 
The nasal openings are among the barbs on the snout, and 
are covered with a lobe above; passing into a nasal cavity that 
is marked with longitudinal folds through a cartilaginous tube 
marked with a ring; (Mr. Owen says with rings like the wind- 
pipe;) and from thence to the entrance of the gullet, where is 
a valve, and through which the water for breathing passes into 
what we may term the gills; so that, as this author supposes, 
there exists in this fish a sort of structure through the nostrils 
to what is equivalent to the gills, which is not found in any other. 
Rut it appears to me that the difference in this respect between 
the Borer and the Lamprey is rather in the circumstances than 
the essentials of this organization; since the opening on the 
head in the one performs the same function as what are termed 
the nasal openings in the other, and both of them afford the 
means by which water is conveyed to the gills; but in the 
case of the Borer, as perhaps in the Lampreys, there are some 
organic formations, as a veil to the palate, and some smaller 
veils of a similar kind, which must greatly assist in rendering 
