IIARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



201 



into the shade every other member of the class to 

 which it belongs. 



It is about five inches long when at rest, and with 

 its "frills and tuckers " about three-quarters of an 

 inch in diameter. 



For the sake of convenience it can be described as 

 ormed of four portions ; the first eight or nine 



are seen under the microscope to be fringed with 

 small, sharp, lanceolate teeth. These are the pro- 

 jecting points of a beautiful fan-like arrangement of 

 bristles of a bright golden colour. On the lower half 

 of the outward edge of the fourth pair these are much 

 stouter, mucronate in form, and black. 



The ninth pair of "feet" are much elongated, 



A 



%m^//ma 



Fig. iQ^. — Clicetoptcrus Valencinii. Qf. nat. size. (From living specimen.) 



v\_/T 



Fig. no. — Hermothoe in aim- 

 greni. Natural size. 



Fig. in. — Tube of Cha;topteriis, 

 Quarter natural size. 



Fig. 3i2. — Arrangement of Bristles in 

 4th pair of feet of Chsetopterus. X 12. 



Fig. 113. — Bristle of Chxtopterus. X 50. 



segments forming the head part are firm and elastic. 

 The whole of the remainder of the animal is soft and 

 gelatinous, as if formed of thin membrane inflated 

 with fluid. 



Its colour is milky-white and semi-transparent, 

 •except the second portion where the alimentary 

 canal is in close proximity to the here excessively 

 thin skin. This part shows black or very dark green. 



The first eight pairs of feet (if this term is correct) 



lanceolate in form, and have the bristles simply 

 acicular, and arranged in a bundle forming a ' ' mid- 

 rib," giving these appendages firmness with flexi- 

 bility, and not projecting through the skin. 



The second portion of the worm consists of little 

 more than alimentary canal with a delicate white 

 thread running along the dorsal line. This thread, 

 with the constrictions of the segment, give to this 

 part a knotted appearance. 



