LERNEAD^E. 307 



of life they approach more closely to this latter order than 

 any other family of the Siphonostoma. 



1. NICOTHOE ASTACI. Tab. XXXIII, fig. 11. 



NICOTHOE ASTACI, Audouin and M. Edwards, Ann. Sc. Nat., 1st series, 



ix, t. 49, f. 1-9. 



Latreille, Cuv. Regne Aniin., iv, 202. 

 Burmeister, Nov. Act. Nat. Cur., xvii, 327. 

 Guerin, Icon. Regne An. Crust., t. 35, f. 12. 

 Kroyer, Tidsskrift, ii, t. 3, f. 7. 

 M. Edwards, Hist. Nat, Crust., iii, 481, t. 40, f. 23. 

 Rathke, Nov. Act. Nat. Cur., xx, 102, t. 5, f. 1-10. 



Character. The length of this species is about two 

 lines, and the colour is of a rosy hue. It is as yet the 

 only known species of the genus. 



Hab. On the gills of the common lobster. London 

 market, March and April, 1849 ; W. B. Falmouth, Sept. 

 1849 ; W. P. Cocks, Esq. British Museum. 



ORDER II LERNEADJE. 



Mouth suctorial. Thorax not articulated. Feet and 

 other organs belonging to thoracic segment nearly rudi- 

 mentary. No eyes. Body very outre in appearance. 



Bibliographical History and Systematic Arrangement. 



The existence of the Lerneae seems to have been known 

 to the ancients. Aristotle informs us, in his ' Historia 

 Animalium,' that the tunny and sword-fish are tormented 

 by a sort of worm, which fastens itself under the fin, and 

 causes such irritation to the animal, that it often leaps out 

 of the water, and falls on board of ships.* Pliny repeats 



* "Thunni et gladii agitantur asilo cauis exortu, habent euira utrique 

 per id tempus sub pinna ceu vermiculum, quein asilum vocant, effigie scor- 

 pionis, magnitudine aranei ; infestat hoc tanto dolore, ut uon minus interdum 

 gladius quam delphinus exiliat, nude fit, ut vel in navigia saepenumero in- 

 cidat." Lib. viii, cap. 19. 



