III.—A Monograph on the general Morphology of the Myxinoid Fishes, based on a study of Myxine. Part V. The Anatomy of the Gut and its Appendages

Abstract

The first four parts of this work, on the skeleton, muscles, and vascular system, were published in theTransactionsof the Society in 1905, 1907, 1909, and 1912.The present section does not include the teeth, which, belonging properly to the skin, will be described when the skin and its appendages are dealt with. It will be noticed from time to time that I have to record striking differences from results obtained by other authors. Such differences must, of course, be recorded; but in recording them it must not be understood, unless the contrary is expressly stated, that the observations under discussion are necessarily inaccurate. One cannot investigate Myxinoid anatomy without frequently coming up against somewhat astonishing variations, and I have long been convinced that there must be races or colonies ofMyxinewhich have not been distinguished specifically, but which, nevertheless, possess anatomical features in common. To give one instance out of many. Mr R. H. Burne has described in detail an anal slime gland inMyxine.