68 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



of Swansea — emphatically denies the whole of the 

 "fables'' originated by Bonnet, and accepted by all 

 successors. He says* there is not one word of truth 

 in the statements, and he laughs at Professor Owen for 

 repeating them. I have examined the point, as regards 

 the Nais, since reading his denial, and am at a loss to 

 understand how that denial could have been made in 

 terms so sweeping. In the Na'is prohoscidca the 

 spontaneous separation is preceded by the formation 

 of a head, with the unmistakable proboscis ; as any one 

 may observe who mil collect a few specimens from a 

 neighbouring pond. 



The Na'is prohoscidea is a convincing instance, be- 

 cause the long proboscis may easily be seen projecting 

 from the segment where the separation will take place ; 

 and its presence removes all possible doubt as to the 

 formation of a new head. Disposed as I am to allow 

 due weight to the opinions of Dr Williams, I am sur- 

 prised to find him saying : " The tail-fragment never, 

 as can be proved by easy observation, produces a single 

 new ring or segment of the body. If this be true, how 

 completely improbable must be the statement, that the 

 headless piece is capable of constructing a new head!" 

 No one can read Bonnet's own account of his observa- 

 tions and experiments, recorded with great minuteness 

 and precision, without feeling considerable surprise at 

 such a remark. If Dr WiUiams were correct, his con- 

 tradiction would throw a doubt on the observations of 



* Williams — Report on British Annelida, 1851 — In Reports of 

 British Association, 1852, p. 247. 



