67 
front, and the anterior edge of the pectoral fin expanded 
like two horns. 
The Electric Ray ( Torpedo) is peculiar for its fiddle¬ 
shaped body. The mouth of most of the Rays is armed 
with tubercular teeth placed in close quincunx order on 
the maxillae. The teeth of the Sea Eagle are large flat 
plates, arranged like the squares of a pavement. The 
teeth and caudal spines of these fishes are often found 
in a fossil state; the former being called palates. 
The last family of fishes is that of the Lampreys 
(. Petromyzidce ), whose skeleton is the most imperfect 
of all the vertebrated animals. Their body is long, 
slender, and cylindrical, ending in a circular mouth, and 
destitute of any pectoral or ventral fins. The true Lam¬ 
prey ( Petromyzon ) has seven branchial openings, whence 
their vulgar name Seven Eyes, and the skin under the tail 
forms a kind of fin. Their mouth is armed with teeth. 
The Gastrobranchus ( Gastrobranchus ) differs from 
the Lamprey, by the tongue only being armed with teeth, 
like the Lobworms. These animals emit such a quantity 
of mucus through the pores of the lateral lines, that it 
converts the water in which it is placed into a jelly. 
Cases No. 9 —23 contain Fish preserved in spirits. 
The Table Cases in the centre of the room contain 
the continuation of the collection of Radiated animals, 
arranged according to de Blainville*. All the Sea Jellies, 
(. Arachnodermce ) except Yelella and Porpita, (Case 1,) 
being soft, and destitute of any hard part, are incapable of 
being preserved in a dry state. 
The stellated corals, which the Zoantharise, or Animal 
Flowers, form to protect their soft and delicate bodies, 
are generally attached to marine substances, but some of 
the naked species, have the power of locomotion. 
The Sea Anemones, the Lucernariae, and the common 
fresh-water Polypus are naked, soft and very contractile, 
and for that reason cannot be preserved in a dry state, 
—consequently they form no part of this collection. 
* Diet, des Sc. Nat. Art. Zoophytes. 
F 2 The 
ROOM XI. 
Nat. Hjst. 
