190 Mr. R. Templeton's Descriptions of 



unique in this family. It has formed for itself or seized upon a little 

 membranous tube, nearly ^th of an inch long, which does not re- 

 semble the case of Tichtlaria, but seems composed of a series of rings, 

 and resembles in texture the papyritious covering of the pendulous 

 wasps'-nests. It is perfectly cylindrical, of a brown colour, and 

 opake. When disturbed the little animal retires within this tube, 

 the tips of the antennae alone appearing, with which it continues to 

 investigate its neighbourhood ; and whenever the feeling of perfect 

 security prevails, it comes out as far as the second or third ring from 

 the head, the antennae being perpetually in motion, extended to the 

 right or left, or as if lashing the objects about it. When it wishes 

 to change its place it seizes with its clav/s the little fragments of 

 sea- weed about it, and dragging, urges itself forward. I have never 

 seen it dash itself through the water by any mode similar to that of 

 the Gammari; and I should infer that the tube was its natural place 

 of residence from the want of legs or fin-feet at the middle rings, in 

 which it differs from C. tubularis of Say, that author figuring a re- 

 gular succession of both. I have observed the tail slightly pro- 

 truded, and the members which are sketched as attached to adjoin- 

 ing rings used as feelers. While watching it, which I did for some 

 hours, I was exceedingly surprised and amused to find it disappear- 

 ing from one end of the tube, and reappearing like magic at the 

 other, having doubled itself up towards its belly in the passage, but 

 with such quickness, considering the narrow calibre of its mansion, 

 that I could hardly credit my eyes but that it had two heads, and 

 indeed a gentleman who was in the pavilion with me at the time 

 could not be persuaded to the contrary. The animal however 

 scarcely remained a second at this extremit5% but shot back to the 

 one it had formerly occupied ; and during the time I watched it I 

 never saw it remain permanently at it, or rather I should say for a 

 longer period than a second, or second and half at furthest. The 

 maxiUae resemble those of Scolopendra, but are very minute, and I 

 believe the smaller palpi arise from them or a very closely adjoining 

 part, but vision is so indistinct in so small an object as to make me 

 hesitate in affirming this. The circulation of the blood was di- 

 stinctly visible in the antennae, and the globules, unlike those I had 

 hitherto examined, were rotund and of comparatively large dimen- 

 sions. From the upper part of the head a spine, with a very dilated 

 base, extends forwards to between the roots of the superior antennae. 

 The eyes were black, with a pale encircling ring. The head brown, 

 dotted with white, especially behind ; and the antennae pale, annu- 

 lated imperfectly with reddish brown. 



