268 EVENINGS AT THE MICROSCOPE. 



In this instance the armour of the proboscis is feeble; 

 but we have species which are very elaborately armed. 

 There is a minute species of Lombrinereis, which com- 

 monly appears in our aquaria after they have been some 

 time established, and breeds in vast numbers on the 

 fioccose matter that clogs the bottom and sides. In this 

 tiny Worm there is a formidable array of jaws, resembling 

 black hooks, which we may discern through their pellucid 

 tissues, snapping and cutting viciously like so many pairs 

 of hooked scissors. Though I have often had this little 

 species in my tanks in copious abundance, I regret to 

 say I cannot find any at this moment for our examination,, 

 and shall therefore content myself with translating for 

 you MM. Audouin and Milne-Edwards' description of 

 the jaws, as they appear in a closely-allied form, but of 

 far greater dimensions, Eunice. 



" The proboscis is not very protrusile; when it is with- 

 drawn its external orifice is longitudinal, and the jaws 

 are fixed on each side, all facing the medial line. When it 

 is projected, however, the two margins of the longitudinal 

 cleft become transverse in separating, and the jaws follow 

 the same movement, and diverge in the ratio of their for- 

 wardness. A kind of lower lip which is affixed to the 

 under side of the proboscis is composed of two horny 

 blades united towards their front extremity, and prolonged 

 behind into points. The jaws are to the number of seven ; 

 three on the right and four on the left ; the two upper 

 ones are perfectly alike, and mutually opposed; they are 

 large, narrow, pointed, re-curved hook-wise at the tip, 

 and jointed at their hinder ends on a double horny stem 

 shorter than themselves. The second pair of jaws are 

 large, broad and flat, mutually alike, and jointed on the 

 lower side of the first pair; . . . their internal edge is 

 straight and cut into deep teeth. The third pair are 

 small, thin, concave, and notched ; they are affixed by 

 their inferior edge outside and in front of the second pair, 

 which they conceal during repose. Finally, the super- 



