R. T. LEWIS ON MERMIS NIGRESCENS. 25 



numerous other specimens, some on rose bushes and plants, others 

 upon the ground, but all alive and active, and in a mature con- 

 dition ; I could, however, only find them on the western side of the 

 garden, the wind during the clay having blown from the east, and 

 the eastern side being much sheltered by trees. On the following- 

 morning not one could anywhere be found, and where they came 

 from, or went to, remain as much unanswered queries as in 1867, 

 though at that time, as on former occasions, a belief prevailed 

 amongst the rural population that they had fallen from the clouds 

 during the storm. 



The finding of these specimens during the present month enabled 

 me to repeat and to verify the observations made in 1867, and this 

 under the more favourable conditions that these recentlv obtained 

 were living, whereas those formerly received from Bognor were 

 dead and dry when they came to hand. In general appearance the 

 two lots are precisely similar — from 3^ to 5 inches long by 

 about Jq inch in diameter, their colour varying with the quantity 

 of ova which they contained, the darkest specimens probably en- 

 closing not far short of 10,000. 



The spirally striated character of the translucent integument is 

 very marked in the living specimens, and seems to furnish a clue to 

 their extraordinary muscular power and movements, for whilst 

 readily able to coil up into a helix of about T \ inch in diameter, 

 it was noted that when seized by one end the body became almost 

 rigid, and many specimens were taken which were erect and w T aving 

 to and fro in the air for at least | of their total length. One 

 specimen, whilst under the microscope, was observed to expel a 

 quantity of ova which, when placed under a ^ ineh objective, were at 

 once seen to possess the curious appendages formerly noticed, each 

 ovum being enclosed in a delicate hyaline capsule, having one or 

 more extremely fine brush-like processes at each end. Specimens 

 of the worms, both alive and mounted, are exhibited in the room, 

 and under another microscope the ova, with their appendages, are 

 also shown ; these are simply placed under a cover glass upon a 

 hollowed glass slide, in a little water, as any attempt to mount 

 them has hitherto only resulted in the rapture of the capsule and 

 escape of the worm. It is mainly with the hope of eliciting some 

 suggestions as to the probable use of these appendages that I 

 have ventured this short note upon an old subject. 



Note. — Since the above was written and on the afternoon of 



