VERMES. fl 
peared in the vessel containing fig. 1. This animal is not rare, but 
seldom seen above four inches long. ‘The finest specimens I have had 
were from Alexander Wood, an intelligent fisherman at Cellardyke. 
The resemblance of the Planaria dorsalis of Miiller to this'Gordius, 
renders it probable that he has mistaken a mutilated portion of the an- 
terior for an entire specimen; not an uncommon error among natu- 
ralists. 
Specimens have survived many months in my possession. 
Prater X. 
Fic. 1. Gordius tenia. 
2. Another specimen. 
3. Ova. 
u 
4. Group, enlarged. 
§ 2. Gorprus minor.—The features of the two preceding species are 
sufficiently distinctive in the position and form of the mouth, the 
anterior portions, and in their extraordimary dimensions. Yet it must 
be allowed, that we are ignorant whether the form of the posterior 
extremity of the first has been ascertamed. But the characters of all 
the species comprehended in this paragraph are not equally strong,—and 
although some of them may be thought prominent enough, probably we 
are deficient as to others, either to determine their varieties, or to assign 
them with confidence to their proper place. Accidental mutilation may 
have removed a part essential for shewing form, size, or colour, while 
the observer believes his specimen entire and perfect. Patience, time, 
and numbers are perhaps his surest safeguard here. However, he can 
searcely expect any protection against the constant delusion of varieties. 
The only permanent characters of the animals of this paragraph, 
are the form of the head, and position of the mouth. They are of various 
colours, especially white, green, brown, reddish, and purple. <A fine 
specimen, eight inches long, occurred of pale purple. They dwell under 
stones, in fissures of the rocks, and they take shelter under any miscel- 
laneous mass that may be in their vicinity. The elasticity of the body 
renders all computations of the true dimensions equivocal. 
