. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. â¢c secretion and tlic sides, and THE LANCELET. 319 lu'iid, and its orifico is crossed In- numerous cirrhi, averaging from twelve to fifteen âii caoli side. Altogetlier, it really seems to be a less perfect and less developed animal tjiaii many of the higher molluscs. The habUs of this remarkable fish arc very curious ; and it will be better to give the accounts in the words of the narrators, than to condense or paraphrase them. The first
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. â¢c secretion and tlic sides, and THE LANCELET. 319 lu'iid, and its orifico is crossed In- numerous cirrhi, averaging from twelve to fifteen âii caoli side. Altogetlier, it really seems to be a less perfect and less developed animal tjiaii many of the higher molluscs. The habUs of this remarkable fish arc very curious ; and it will be better to give the accounts in the words of the narrators, than to condense or paraphrase them. The first history of the Lancelet is given by Mr. Couch, who was the first captor of the fish on the British coasts. He saw its tiansparenl tail projecting from beneath a stone on the shore at low tide, and swept it into his hand together with some water. 'Wlieu alive," writes ^Nlr. Couch, "this fish had a very evident though diaphanous fin, extending from near the snout round the extremity of the tail, which it encircled in tJie maimer of the same organ in the eel, and terminating at the vent. This specimen was not found in a pool, but lay buried in a small quantity of sand, at about fifty feet from the receding tide; and on turning over a small llai stone that was on the sand the tail of tliu iish appeared exposed. Wiien moved, it exliibited signs of great activity, so tliat the head could not readily bo dis- tin,i;uished from the tail; and as there can be no doubt that the iisli had sought the shelter of the sand in which it was ibund, there is little question that mud is its usual haliitation; a circumstance still more probable by its want of eyes. It was discovered on the 21st of December, 18:51, after a heavy storm that had torn it from its native situation, which, from its rarity, we may supjiose to be in dcp]i water. In February, IS.^8, I (ihtained two other specimens, which had been thrown up by a tinipcst. The largest measured two inches and three-tenths in Itn-th,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubj, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectmollusks
