44 Illustrations of British Zoology. 



singular, and so far removed from any with which non-natu- 

 ralists are familiar, that some of my friends, on seeing the 

 drawing, have actually asked to which kingdom, animal or 

 vegetable, the thing belonged; and to uncommonness of 

 shape, in adds beauty in colour and in ornament, and much 

 vivacity in its motions. There is, to my eye, not a more lovely 

 object among the numerous interesting worms that dwell on 

 our shores. I had, on a summer's evening, taken a favourite 

 station by the side of a pellucid pool hewn by nature in the 

 rock, and was admiring the mimic landscape reflected from 

 the water, when my attention was caught by what seemed 

 to be a clot of blood adhering to the frond of a sea-weed ; 

 it might be, was the passing thought, a small bit of the liver 

 of some mutilated fish, when, lo ! it moved, and suddenly 

 expanded before me in all its beauty. It was impossible to 

 restrain open expression of admiration and pleasing surprise. 

 It had risen up like an enchanted thing, and in a shape so 

 novel, that fancy had not imagined its existence among ani- 

 mated beings ; it displayed its ornaments, the beads and 

 tassels of its border, with such grace, and its rich colour 

 contrasted so well with the sombre darkness of the weed on 

 which it had settled, that the most apathetic would have 

 been warmed ; while I leaped for very joy, and said within 

 myself. Surely the Creator of all holds this out to lure his 

 rational creatures to study his works, and search out his 

 wisdom ! 



Our figure {Jig, 29.) is of the natural size, and the individual 

 from which it was taken was of a clear pinkish red colour. It 



adheres by a short stalk, which dilates into eight equal oblong 

 arms, each terminated by a globose tuft of filaments, tipped 

 with a gland. The arms are mottled with two rows of spots, 

 produced by the opacity and configuration of the internal vis- 

 cera ; and they are connected together by a transparent mem- 

 brane. Between each of them there is an oval vesicle placed 

 on the edge of this membrane. Within the stalk there is a 



