VERMES. 57 



fragilis pursues a speedy course amidst its element, occasionally pro- 

 truding its snout on the side of the vessel above the surface of the water. 



Naturalists are aware that the peculiar attitudes, motions, and habits 

 of animals, may aid them in determining the position of those whose 

 proper place is obscure in the Systcma. On this occasion, nevertheless, I 

 must speak with much reserve, having neither beheld any such appear- 

 ances as just described protracted among the worms properly so denomi- 

 nated, nor having any certainty that the specimen under observation was 

 entire. 



Its state is very different during quiescence. Then, contracting to 

 about a third of the original length, it flattens and broadens, and appears 

 quite inanimate. Plate VII. fig. 2. 



The intestinal canal runs through the whole body, from the mouth 

 to the posterior extremity. At some distance from the anterior extre- 

 mity, a large portion of the animal was full of a yellow substance, partly 

 exposed by a section, but of the nature of which I could not form any 

 satisfactory conjecture. Plate VI. fig. 1. Indeed, my anxiety for pre- 

 servation, prevented me from taking the necessary means of ascertaining 

 this fact. 



Several species of the Gordius feed ravenously. Lamarck is mis- 

 taken in affirming that they subsist by the suction of liquids only. The 

 present specimen was evidently distended at times by water. It refused 

 the animal substances offered, either from being unsuitable, or because 

 the temperature of the atmosphere was too low, which precludes the feed- 

 ing of many creatures of the lower orders. 



Notwithstanding the gigantic proportions of this specimen, consider- 

 ed as a worm, I am ignorant whether it was entire whether it was not 

 originally twice as long, a fact extremely probable, and that for various 

 reasons. 



While full of life and vigour, the creature being exhibited to an in- 

 genious naturalist, sprung so far up the side of its vessel, as to be in dan- 

 ger of coming over. But having been prevented at the time, I felt ap- 

 prehensive that the body was strained. 



My fears proved too true, for within the space of fifteen minutes, 



H 



