80 VERMES. 



ments seemed often passing down the whole body from the anterior ex- 

 tremity. 



In five weeks a fragment, along with the spine, separated from the 

 extremity, and crawled about the vessel. Twelve other portions, of 

 various dimensions, also separated in the course of the same and the suc- 

 ceeding day. 



As the specimen seemed falling to pieces, I removed it to another 

 vessel, where no mutilations followed for three or four days. A small 

 fragment was then detached from the extremity, and next day another, 

 not the sixteenth of an inch, on replenishing the vessel with water, 

 which continued crawling. But the animal itself betrayed symptoms of 

 suffering, in its endeavours to protect the mutilated extremity. 



In six weeks from the date of acquisition, its whole length while 

 crawling, did not exceed five-eighths of an inch. Two deep constrictions 

 towards the posterior extremity, also threatened the further loss of a 

 fragment equalling an eighth of an inch, so that the portions of the body 

 actually remaining entire, hardly extended half an inch, or the seventh 

 part of what was originally the whole animal. Accordingly, the two 

 portions separated, one on the subsequent day, the other on that fol- 

 lowing. 



Thus the creature literally fell in pieces ; and it died when only a 

 quarter of an inch of the anterior extremity subsisted. 



Considering the first mutilation, which was evidently replaced by 

 the white extremity and prolongation, the subject unimpaired must have 

 been of considerable dimensions. 



PLATE XI. 



Fio. 5. Gordivs fragilis spinifer. 



d. GORDIUS FASCIATUS SPINIFER The Belted Spine Gordius. Plate XI. 



Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9. 



Length two inches and a half, or more ; breadth under the sixteenth 

 of an inch ; figure semicylindrical ; anterior extremity obtuse, cleft by 

 a groove ; posterior extremity terminating in a spinous prolongation. 



