VERMES. 61 
But in this I was disappointed. The animal became broken up into 
at least ten portions, and none of these lived above a week. 
A considerable quantity of thick creamy matter was discharged by 
most or by all of them. 
The ruptured parts of the first portion exposed internal contents, 
resembling an immense immature yellow ovarium ; and some yellow 
pellets appeared on the bottom of its vessel, which soon decayed. This 
may be seen in a portion, Plate VII. fig. 17. I felt uncertain, however, 
as to its real nature, and I was rather disposed to consider as ova many 
thousand whitish spherical globules discharged on the 1st day of May.— 
Fig. 18, enlarged. 
I am confident, that had the ruptured portions of these animals sur- 
vived, complete reproduction of the defective parts would have ensued. 
It is singular that the same tendencies were manifested by all the small 
parts after subdivision, as by the largest portions before it. It is sin- 
gular also, that such active regeneration downwards, and a growth at the 
same time tending upwards, should have occurred simultaneously. 
Had mutilations of a vigorous specimen taken place in summer, re- 
dintegration might have been promoted by the more favourable tempera- 
ture of the atmosphere. 
This animal is extremely rare. Very few of the fishermen are ac- 
quainted with it. Nor do I know that any entire specimen has come 
under the inspection of any naturalist. Mr Henry Goodsir, one of pre- 
eminent abilities, observes, in a brief notice,* that the largest portion of 
three specimens which came at various times into his possession extended 
about a yard ; and ina sketch, probably designed to represent it, the 
posterior extremity is defective. Mr Goodsir does not say where, or 
when, this specimen was found. But a fisherman acquainted me that 
he had given him a specimen in 1843 ; and Mr Goodsir shewed me a 
portion of the anterior, extending to a few inches, comprehending the 
mouth, which he had preserved in spirits. 
* Annals and Magazine of Natural History, v. xv., Plate XX. figs. 1, 2. 
