THE ANNELIDA. 265 
annelid contracts and elongates itself, glides through the water, 
turning quickly hither and thither with the quickness of thought, 
it looks like a beam of coloured light shooting through the sub- 
marine world, and disporting itself amongst the rocks. 
The complication of construction in these creatures is something 
incalculable. Conceive an animal with 280 stomachs, 300 ganglions 
or nerval centres, and 3,000 muscles! The Eusice sanguinea 
rejoices in this multiplication of apparatus. 
Perhaps the most beautiful of the annelids to be found upon 
our coasts is the Aphrodita aculeata—the sea-mouse. Its shape is 
ovoid, pointed at the extremities, and a little flattened; its back 
is somewhat convex, the ventral region being flat. The upper 
part of its body is covered with large membranous scales, which 
are sometimes distended; they have been called, though without 
much reason, c/ytra (winged sheaths). These scales are covered 
with a thick, brown fur, which has the appearance of fine tow. 
Through this peculiar covering there rise strong spines—the 
defensive weapons of the annelid. Its bristly tufts, which are its 
chief organs of locomotion, are usually of a rich golden tint, yet 
they can change with every colour of the rainbow; the tints being 
flung back as if by metallic reflectors. Not even can the humming- 
bird boast of such vivid colours, nor are they inferior to the sparkles 
of agem. These tufts are as remarkable for their construction as 
for their lights; each thread may be compared to a harpoon whose 
point is doubly barbed. Few of the ocean depredators are brave 
enough to attack this little porcupine; and, lest that these for- 
midable weapons should wound the annelid itself, a sheath is 
provided for each bundle, so that when they are not in use the 
creature draws them back, and they are safely kept for the next 
time of danger. 
The aphrodita is very timid. It is difficult to rouse during 
the day; it lies ensconced under a stone or shell, drawing in 
and ejecting a current of water so strong that it creates quite a 
little whirlpool. When night comes, it leaves its hiding-place in 
search of prey. The annelids are, as we have said, very voracious, 
not even sparing their own species. Mr. Rymer Jones speaks of 
two annelids, not equal in size, probably being of different ages, 
which were put into an aquarium. For two or three days they 
