PLANARIA VELOX. 131 



somewhere under the projection of the 

 snout. 



It is a lively, active animal, swiftly tra- 

 versing the surrounding substances, with 

 its snout incessantly in motion as if in 

 quest of prey; and as its size is not speedi- 

 ly reduced by confinement, it possibly sub- 

 sists on aquatic animalcula. 



The planaria velox is distinguished by 

 remarkable timidity ; its adhesive facul- 

 ty is so slight, that the containing vessel 

 can scarce be touched without the conse- 

 quent cessation of its hold. The same, in- 

 deed, is a leading characteristic of all other 

 planariae, though in a far inferior degree ; 

 they suddenly abandon the plane of posi- 

 tion, and drop through the water, with con- 

 tortions of the body, as if to break their 

 fall, while they are evidently aided by a fi- 

 lament invisible to the naked eye. 



This planaria propagates by eggs, which 

 are arranged in an ovarium of two rows, 

 one as if belonging to each side of the bo- 

 dy. Their number is exceedingly various, 



