APHRODITA. 171 
Scotish seas, and in every place, it has invariably attracted the notice 
of many who have not otherwise much curiosity regarding the works of 
creation. 
The body of the largest extends eight inches, commonly it does not 
exceed five, of a long oval figure, with extremities proportionably acute. 
The back is somewhat convex, the belly flat. Short, thick, brown fur covers 
the middle part of the former, surrounded, especially towards the sides, 
with long, bright, green and yellow iridescent hair, very beautiful to be- 
hold. Intermixed with this are transverse irregular rows of long, stiff, 
thorny, brown bristles. Two cartilaginous-looking flexible antenne, 
about half an inch long, issue from the head, besides some other organs. 
Possibly only two real antennze belong to the Aphrodita. Belly smooth, 
soft, dark, full of transverse ridges. A row of peduncles with bristles, 
borders each side of the body, serving to aid the motion of the animal ; 
but its sluggishness is excessive. It scarcely ever moves, it is always 
languid, remaining nearly in the same position, with the posterior ex- 
tremity of the body recurved, and discharging a stream of water from an 
orifice there. 
Baster remarks, that this Aphrodita shewed a certain turgidity, by 
which it was enlarged a third more at one time than at another. Probably 
its aspect is modified by absorption. The stream is discharged so forcibly, 
as to form a slight vortex at the neighbouring surface of the water. 
Naturalists have bestowed considerable attention in explaining the 
structure of the Aphrodita aculeata, particularly MM. Andouin and Milne 
Edwards, as may be seen in their works. It is explained that the body 
consists of thirty-nine segments ; that the elytra or scales, concealed by 
the covering of the back from external view, amount to about thirty, or 
fifteen pair, thin, smooth, and almost circular, the larger being in the 
middle, and the others decreasing towards each extremity. There is an 
aperture in the surface of the head in connection with the respiratory 
functions, from the position of the branchise under the surface of the 
back. 
None, of many specimens living several months in my possession, have 
fed on any substance offered to them. 
