LERNiE BRANCHIATIS. 259 



SPECIES V. 



ONISCUS CETI OF LINNjEUS,* 



OR 



WHALE LOUSE.t 



This small animal, although only half an inch diameter, 

 proves a source of great annoyance to the whole of the 

 whale genus, by firmly attaching itself to the skin, and this 

 principally under the fin, or any other part where the skin is 

 tender and itself unlikely to be dislodged. Captain Scoresby 

 states that he has only seen it in the B. Mysticetus ; but from 

 enquiries I have made to numerous Greenland Captains, 

 and experienced seamen, I find that all the species are sub- 

 ject to them. The narwhale is liable to the annoyance 

 of a similar but smaller animal. 



CLASS —VERMES, OR WORMS. 



LERN.E BRANCHIATIS. 



This is one of the largest species of this genus, being about 

 two inches in length. The body is round and flexous, 

 hollow and membraneous, thicker before and behind, it is 

 of a dull white, or a dirty reddish hue. The mouth is 

 lateral and seated between three slightly branched horns. 



* Synontme.— The Larundi Ceti, of Dr. Leach. t Norn. Vulg. 



s 2 



