found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 73 



small indentations, or has a somewhat quadrifid appearance : the 

 mouth is small, and placed longitudinally beneath : the vent is 

 situated at the other extremity, through which the faeces are ejected 

 in a singular manner. For this operation the end is raised, and a 

 small inflated transparent bladder is first protruded, into which 

 the fieces are then driven, and retained for a few seconds ; after 

 which they are expelled with force in a continued small stream, 

 like a fine slender worm of a light yellow colour. 



If the animal be wounded, or the body divided, small threads of 

 milky appearance issue from the wound, and do not mix with the 

 water without agitation : the same happened in spirits ; for on 

 putting one alive into diluted alcohol it divided into several parts 

 by violent contraction : this lacteal fluid, on being shaken, ren- 

 dered both spirit and water turbid. 



Its colour is generally dusky brown, with a tinge of green; 

 rarely rufous brown, with five faint longitudinal lines the whole 

 length of a paler colour. 



The largest are taken by dredging, in old bivalve shells; but are 

 sometimes found under stones at low water, always coiled or con- 

 torted in the most complicated manner : those which we have 

 kept in sea water never attempted to extend themselves, but 

 confined their motion wholly to contortion. 



The expansion and contraction are so unlimited that it is scarcely 

 possible to ascertain the utmost length of this worm: one which 

 was esteemed to be about eight feet long was put alive into spirits, 

 and instantly contracted to about one foot, at the same time in- 

 crciising double the bulk, which originally was about the diameter 

 of a crow's quill. In the vast exertion of the muscles, the animal is 

 generally divided at those parts which had been twined into knots. 



This worm is very difficult to preserve perfect without contrac- 

 tion; for, if suffered to die in its natural element, one part will 



voi,. vi i. jl decay 



