A Turbellarian Worm. 39 



A TURBELLARIAN WORM 



(^Bdelloura Candida or Bdelloura propinqua) . 



Two species of Bdelloura are abundantly found attached 

 to the under surface and in the "gill-books" of Limulus. 

 The larger species (candida) may reach a length of 15 mm., 

 while the smaller, often found aggregated in clusters on 

 the cephalothoracic appendages, does not exceed a length 

 of 8 mm. Certain internal characters also separate the 

 species. 



External Anatomy.- -The body is broad and flat, the 

 anterior end elongated and pointed, the posterior wide 

 and provided with a ventral sucker. The eyes are deeply 

 pigmented, and the brownish intestine often gives a darker 

 color to the middle region of the body. On the lower side 

 the proboscis hangs freely from near the middle of the 

 animal, bearing at its extremity the mouth. In the living 

 animal active cilia will be found especially abundant along 

 the margin of the body. 



The Digestive System. The opening of the mouth 

 leads into the pharyngeal cavity, contained in the proboscis, 

 and from the proximal portion of the cavity the branching 

 intestine takes its origin. 



The intestine should be examined in a specimen that 

 has been compressed under a heavy cover-glass. It will 



