$56 Gdrdius aqudticus. 



is a small space, which is roughened on the sides with very 

 minute granules. The tail is bifid, the processes short, equal, 

 and obtuse. The anus is apparently not terminal, but placed 

 a little above. The interior of the body is occupied by a 

 milk-white and comparatively large intestine, which runs 

 from one extremity to the other. When cut through within 

 an inch of the head, no fluid escapes; but, when a like portion 

 was cut off from the tail, a milky and somewhat oily liquor 

 oozed out. The intestine seems to be annular, for its sides 

 have a crenulated appearance under the magnifier. 



This singular worm is in perpetual motion and change ; 

 and its wrigglings have a sort of painful character, which 

 suggest involuntarily a comparison of it to "the worm that 

 never dieth." Although observed very often during several 

 days, it was never seen at rest for a single moment, but was 

 ever bending its long hair-like body into larger and smaller 

 curves, now moving rapidly across the plate, and now twisting: 

 and contorting itself into circles and curves. The undivided 

 end, though the contrary has been asserted *, is evidently the 

 head; and this partis often pushed forward and out of the 

 water; which, however, the worm never leaves. When a 

 portion from the anterior end was cut off, the detached por- 

 tion very soon lost every sign of life. A portion from the tail 

 gave evidence of remaining irritability for a longer time, but 

 still did not live long ; the main part, however, continuing to 

 move on as before ; and, as it did so for at least 48 hours, it 

 may be that life would not have been shortened by these 

 mutilations. 



The synonymes and descriptions of this worm are exceed- 

 ingly confused ; for many authors have not distinguished it 

 it from the Filaria ; a worm very like the Gordius, and some- 

 times found in the same places, though its proper habitat is 

 in the intestines of beetles and other insects. Thus, Muller has 

 described the Filaria for his Gordius seta, and has given the 

 G. aquaticus as a variety of this; and from the fact, that few 

 authors have noticed the bifid tail, we may infer that they 

 generally have had the Filaria in view. 



The Gordius, we are told by certain authors, perforates 

 clay to give a passage to springs and water ! By others it is 

 said to kill fishes ; and, to man, to be so far noxious, that its 

 bite occasions inflammation, which may be cured, it is kindly 

 added, with opium \ Such is a specimen of the fancies which 

 disfigure the history of worms, and which are still to be found 

 in works of a scientific pretension, where we expect to find 



* Dr. Turton describes the tail as a mouth, which, he says, is " small, 

 horizontal, with equal obtuse jaws." 



