104 On Parasitic Animah. 



in the water, or climbs upon any solid surface that may present 

 itself, without seeming to suffer much from the change of posi- 

 tion. It fastens itself strongly, by means of cups, to the fingers 

 or to any other body, imitating in this also the octopus its patron, 

 this being the most appropriate term for the animal which a 

 parasite devours. 



Here M. Cuvier gave an anatomical description of the ani- 

 mal. Its form is elongated, and somewhat prismatic, the dorsal 

 surface being rounded, and the inferior surface flat. Its ordi- 

 nary length is four or five inches. It is thicker, and especially 

 higher, at its fore part, where its breadth is from four to five 

 lines, and its height six or seven. Both dimensions diminish to- 

 wards the posterior part, and especially the height, which is 

 there reduced to less than a line, while the breadth is still two 

 lines. The anterior extremity is obtuse. The cups are placed 

 at the inferior surface. Fifty-two pairs were counted. M. 

 Cuvier then described the stomach, intestines, and alimentary 

 orifice, which latter appears to be single. He then passed to the 

 very remarkable apparatus which he supposes to belong to its 

 generative faculty. This organ, the uses of which still remain 

 to be determined in a precise manner, will afi'ord a curious 

 subject of investigation to the naturalists who may have an op- 

 portunity of observing the animal in its living state. 



" Such," said M. Cuvier in concluding, " are the observa- 

 tions which I have made on this truly extraordinary animal. 

 I doubt not that the attention of the naturalists who inhabit 

 the shores of the Mediterranean having been once excited by 

 this first notice respecting so remarkable a creature, will soon 

 complete its history, whether, by supplying what is wanting in 

 my memoir, or by rectifying the errors into which I may have 

 fallen."" 



