THE ANNALS 



AND 



MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



No. 100. JUNE 1845. 



LI II. — Descriptions of some Gigantic Forms of Invertebrate Ani- 

 mals from the Coast of Scotland. By Harry D. S. Goodsir, 

 M.W.S. 



[With a Plate.] 



Serpentaria. PL XX. %. 1, 2. 



Gen. Char. — Anterior extremity of the body pointed, with the 

 proboscidean orifice obscure and imperfectly developed ; the male 

 generative apertures on each side ; cloaca on the abdominal sur- 

 face immediately behind. Body depressed. The power of divi- 

 sion very great. 



Description. — The power which this animal possesses of so 

 easily casting off the various segments of its body renders it dif- 

 ficult, in fact impossible, to state its exact length. The longest 

 portion of three specimens which have at various times come into 

 my possession was about one yard in length, and when fully ex- 

 tended about ^ths of an inch in breadth. The whole body was 

 of a bright slate -blue colour, with the exception of the proboscis, 

 which was yellow, and a narrow strip of the same colour down 

 each edge, which gradually became narrower on approaching the 

 posterior extremity. The anterior third of the body was much 

 larger and broader than the remaining portion, from which it 

 gradually tapered towards the distal extremity. The anterior ex- 

 tremity tapered very suddenly to a point {rostrum), which was 

 generally curved upwards. 



As the animal has no true proboscis, the proboscidean orifice 

 is very small or imperfectly formed, which renders it difiicult to 

 be seen. On each side of the rostrum there is to be seen a lon- 

 gitudinal narrow slit, generally closed, and communicating with 

 the male generative system. 



Immediately behind these, and on the abdominal surface, is 

 another larger orifice, which the animal has the power of opening 

 and shutting at pleasure. When open it is of an ovoid shape. 

 The edges are serrated. This leads into a large longitudinal 



Ann. ^ Mag. N. Hist. Vol. xv. 2 D 



