THE LIVING WORLD. 
7 1 
conducted by branchia, wbicb extend through the length of its body. Resem¬ 
bling in appearance the worm, the skin consists of a series of minute scales 
or plates overlapped. The mouth and vent are both situated on the left side, 
each somewhat removed from the extremity. The mouth is supplied with 
numerous tentacles and with a little beak. The food duct is composed of the 
mouth, stomach and intestine (as pharynx and oesophagus can likewise be 
distinguished). It has the least possible skeleton, which is, cartilaginous; 
its head is represented in the most rudimentary form by the end of the 
vertebral axis; its eyes, likewise, are rudimentary, seeming to be mere drops 
of pigment; its blood is colorless ; its heart, only the enlargement of a vein ; 
its eggs invite and reward study, as they seem to offer our nearest approach 
to protoplasm. The mature lancet fish buries itself in the sand, keeping 
exposed only its mouth and its tentacles. It may be seen springing from its 
self-selected grave and swimming toward the surface, and again diving into 
the sand and covering itself up. The young lancet fish omit the act of tem¬ 
porary self-interment, and, like children, seem to find satisfaction in a contin¬ 
uous and restless activity. 
SEA CAT. NORTHERN SEA CAT. 
The Slime Fish (.Myxine glutinosa ) resembles an eel, and since its skeleton 
is cartilaginous, it is capable of the most unlimited bodily contortions. It 
exudes through the pores of its sides a jelly-like substance, and from this fact 
has taken its name. Several species are found in the Pacific,. as far north as 
California. They are parasitic during a portion of their life A common 
name given them by fishermen is the borer , or sea-hog. They will attach 
themselves to the body of other fishes, scrape away the flesh by the use of 
their teeth, and, having thus boldly made an opening, will then take up their 
residence in the abdominal cavity of the unwilling and irritated fish. This 
species is quite numerous at Grand Menan, and less frequent on the Atlantic 
coast. It will enter the body of a fish which is dead, or which is caught by .a 
hook, and eat out the substance of the fish, leaving only a husk, as the termite 
ant does with houses and furniture. For the purpose of a scoop, the myxine 
might be a useful instructor for the active and eager reporter for a sensational 
daily paper. Whether the creature begins its attack upon the fish by boring 
into it, or whether it enters through the mouth, is a matter which naturalists 
