334 THE AQUARIAN NATURALIST. 



respired element over the dorsal surface of the crea- 

 ture' s body. 



Like the rest of the erratic Annelidans, the fa- 

 vourite retreat of the Aphrodite is under stones or 

 shells, where it adheres, in a reversed position. It is 

 extremely timid,, roaming abroad at night, apparently 

 in search of prey; but it always quits its retreat 

 cautiously, as if dreading the vicinity of a foe. 



In the middle of June a large specimen of Aphro- 

 dite cirrosa produced an immense number of eggs, 

 probably not fewer than 10,000, or perhaps more. 

 This great profusion, accumulated on the bottom of a 

 glass vessel, was of a reddish hue, each individual 

 ovum being minute, white, and globular to the naked 

 eye ; but as they all proved abortive, we are unac- 

 quainted with the form of the embryo, or the history 

 of the progeny to which they give birth. 



