304 EA^ENINGS AT THE MICROSCOPE. 



" Tlie feet are divided into two very distinct 

 branches, the lower of which is large, conical, of a 

 yellowish-broM'n hue, and much shagreened on the sur- 

 face. The upper branch is much less salient than the 

 lower. We observe at the foot of the dorsal shields 

 two bundles of rigid bristles : the one, expanded like a 

 fan and applied upon the shields, is fixed immediately 

 outside the insertion of those organs ; the bristles which 

 compose it are awl-shaped, without teeth, slightly 

 curved, and directed inwards and backwards ; their 

 colour is a clear brown, with golden reflections. Tlie 

 second bundle is inserted more externally, on a tuber- 

 culous footstalk, and points horizontally backwards 

 and outwards. The bristles which enter into its com- 

 position are very long, very strong, and terminated by 

 a lance-shaped point, of Avhich the edges are garnished 

 with teetli curved backwards towards the base. These 

 are veritable barbed arrows, having the extremities 

 sometimes exposed, but often concealed in a sheath 

 which is formed of two horny pieces, capable of open- 

 ing and of closing again upon them. 



" The use of these two valves it is not difiicult to 

 detect. They protect the points of the arrow, and per- 

 mit the Aijlirodite to receive them again into its body 

 unharmed ; whereas, without this precaution, the tis- 

 sues which they traverse would be cut and mangled. 

 But when these weapons are deeply plunged into a 

 foreign body, as into the soft flesh of those animals 

 which annoy the Worm, since the sheath does not pene 

 trate with them but folds back, it follows that theii 

 teeth are inserted without any protection, and that on 

 account of their backward direction they can be with- 

 drawn only with great difficulty ; thus, in most cases, 



