On the Sea Long-worm of Borlase. 293 
was placed. At other times, particularly in the day-time, it was 
compactly collected together in a heap, and perfectly still, unless 
` the dish or table was touched, of which it seemed very sensible. 
This it indicated by a vibratory motion of its whole mass, and 
retracting the head and forepart, which were generally somewhat 
extended. In the night I always found it coiled in a more lax 
and diffuse manner, covering nearly the whole dish; but on the 
approach of a candle it seemed affected, and inclined to contract 
itself ; so that, although I could not see that it had eyes, I evi- 
dently discerned that it was very sensible of light. It frequently 
by morning assumed somewhat of a spiral or screw-like form ; 
and on one morning in particular I was highly gratified in finding 
it almost perfectly and closely spiral from end to end. I was 
forcibly struck with this appearance, as it seemed to suggest 
to me the solution of a difficulty which perplexed me much, 
concerning the manner how such a wonderfully soft, delicate and 
seemingly unmanageable length of body could possibly. move 
itself from one place to another. But from the moment when I 
observed this, I became perfectly at easc with regard to that par- 
ticular, being convinced that this must be the state which the 
creature assumes when disposed to change its station; not only 
as thus it is contracted, with regard to length, into the most com- 
pact size which its make is susceptible of, but likewise that, 
when so modified, every spire or volution, by a distinct impulse 
exerted in an appropriate manner, will assist in the act of pro- 
gression, and of shifting forward the whole of its amazing length 
at nearly the same instant. | 
` When I took it up at the sea-side, collecting such an immense 
length in a confused manner into the confined space of an oyster- 
shell, (a very large one indeed,) I thought it had been almost im- 
possible to have unravelled it; but it is astonishing to think how 
2Q2 readily 
