ITS STRUCTURE. 223 



its structure. It is densely covered witli very minute 

 triangular scaly spines, somewhat imbricate, the points 

 of which are blunt, and are recurved. The resem- 

 blance borne by this organ to the proboscis in the 

 parasitic Entozoa and Epizoa, is remarkable, and not 

 only shows the affinity of the Syrinx to the vermiform 

 classes, but suggests some analogy of purpose to 

 which the spines are subservient. What the nature 

 of the food is in the Syrinx, and what is the mode in 

 which it is procured, I have no knowledge. I believe 

 the subject is still in ienehris ; but the stomach is said 

 to be always filled with sand and minute fragments of 

 shells, between the swallowing of which, and an elabo- 

 rate prehensile aiTay of recurved hooks, I certainly 

 can imagine no connexion. The whole spinous surface 

 of the proboscis is much more brilliantly iridescent 

 than the body. The termination of this organ is said 

 to be furnished with a circle of short digitate tentacles ; 

 but as the animal did not evert the proboscis to the 

 full extent while I had it alive, I had no opportunity 

 of observina; these. 



At a little more than an inch below the commence- 

 ment of the proboscis there is a small tubercle, which 

 I at first took for a wound, through which the intestine 

 was protruding ; but I believe it is the natural orifice 

 of the digestive canal, which is said to be of great 

 length, extending to the extremity of the body, and 

 then turned on itself till it reaches this tubercle in its 

 reverted course. 



The animal was inert, scarcely moving, except 

 when touched, and died after I had had it about a 

 week. 



