A^TTELIDA. 93 



with their complement of oars. It is a beautiful sight to see a man- 

 of-war's barge full manned with sturdy rowers, gliding along over 

 the level surtace of the sea, the oars all keeping time with such 

 precision that they seem to move as by one impulse. It is a grand 

 spectacle to behold the meteor-like progress of a steam-ship as it 

 cleaves its onward path ; but far more beautiful, far more magnificent 

 to the admirer of the works of Nature, to observe the movements of 

 these splendid worms. Let any one imagine this gorgeous animal 

 free in its native seas, blazing as it does with iridescent tints, that 

 answer back again the glowing brilliancy of a tropical sun — while it 

 rows along its "oary state" by means of upwards of 1700 distinct 

 laminae, all wielded with such energy, that the eye can scarcely 

 follow their movements — and he will perhaps form some faint idea 

 of the efficiency of a locomotive apparatus, such as is provided for 

 the Dorsibranchiate Annelidans. 



"With our notions of a worm," says Dr. Hart- 

 wich, " we generally connect the idea of incomplete- 

 ness ; we are apt to consider them as beings equally 

 uninteresting and ugly, and disdain to inquire into 

 the wonders of their organization; but a cursory 

 examination of the Eunice would alone suffice to 

 give us a very different opinion of these despised but 

 far from despicable animals. Three hundred brains, 

 from which about three thousand nerves proceed, 

 regulate its movements. Two hundred and fifty 

 stomachs digest its food ; five hundred and fifty 

 branchiae refresh its blood; six hundred hearts dis- 

 tribute this vital fluid through its body ; and thirty 

 thousand muscles obey the will of the worm, and 

 execute its snake-like movements. Surely there is 

 here but little occasion to commiserate want, or 

 scoff at poverty !" 



The Sea-mouse {Ealithea* aculeafa) (Fig. 64) is com- 

 mon on our coasts, and is frequently dredged up from 

 muddy ground. This Annelid is four or five inches in 

 length, of a greyish hue, and clothed on the back with a 

 fine silky down, under which are concealed fifteen pairs 

 of scaly plates, one pair on each ring. The under surface 

 is smooth, but marked by transverse divisions, indicating 

 that it is formed of about forty rings or segments. On 

 the sides project bunches of hairs resembling the finest 

 silk, and bedizened with iridescent colours; they yield, 

 indeed, in no respect to the most gorgeous tints of tropical 

 * 6.\s, als, the sea ; Q4a, tliea, a goddess. 



