On the Callorynclius Australis. 
17 
body, and contain an albuminous matter very like the 
outer layer of the crystalline lenses : these ducts terminate 
on all parts of the skin, and the glands no doubt serve 
the purpose of lubrication. 
The general form of the Chimera indicates its power 
of very rapid progression through the water. 
Assimilating organs .—Anterior to the under jaw there 
are two triangular cartilages, which, together with the 
integuments, form a highly moveable upper lip. The 
sides of the upper lip are also capable of being moved 
extensively, so as to form a kind of tube anterior to the 
mouth ; the lateral parts of the mouth are two Y-shaped 
cartilages, and the anterior part of the vomer forms the 
upper part of the mouth. The whole of* the internal 
surface of the under jaw gives support to two large 
crushing teeth, concave, with a small tubercle or con¬ 
vexity in their centre. The upper jaw, or rather palate 
bones, are paved with four teeth of the same character; 
the two in front, by their xinion, form a kind of beak, 
and are much smaller than the posterior, which cover 
the entire roof of the mouth : tubercles are observed 
to correspond with those on the inferior teeth. 
These powerful organs of mastication serve to crush 
the testaceous mollusca on which these fishes subsist, 
and exemplify that beautiful law in nature of adapt¬ 
ation. 
The oesophagus, or gullet, is wide and short, and opens 
at once into a stomach which passes straight through 
the body—the best and most convenient form for a fish 
of rapid motion. The mucous membrane forms a spiral 
valve from one extremity of the stomach to the other: 
this disposition is seen in the rays and sharks. The 
whole of the mucous membrane is covered with glandu¬ 
lar crypts for the purpose of affording a powerful gastric 
juice; and the liver and pancreas are also proportionably 
VOL. i. no. 1. c 
