VERMES. 81 



Mouth a slit in the under surface of the anterior extremity Upper sur- 

 face, with two large black specks in front, and several smaller ones behind 

 them. Colour from light orange to reddish ; the body encircled by a 

 number of white belts. Margin of the anterior extremity white. 



In this species the spinous prolongation bears a great proportion to 

 the length of the body, sometimes being equal to a fourth part of it ; and 

 it is so flexible, that small specimens seem almost capable of casting a 

 knot on it. The number of belts is irregular, nor do I know that they 

 indicate anything but merely a diversity of colour. , 



Specimens are liable to rupture ; and it is rather in the vicinity of 

 the belt that the separation ensues. This incident is the consequence of 

 injury, when a white fluid matter, thicker and heavier than water, 

 escapes. 



A specimen, with twenty-four white belts, ruptured in many parts 

 after secretion of a quantity of glutinous matter, and perhaps the rudi- 

 ments of a speck. The ruptures were principally at the belts. By this 

 means the intestinal canal, about half the length of the animal, was 

 liberated. Fig. 10, enlarged. 



Another specimen, encircled by seventeen white belts, ruptured into 

 six portions, all which enlarged in nine weeks, but their size diminished 

 in five or six weeks longer. Figs. 11, 12, enlarged. 



Of two fine specimens, figs. 6, 13, neither large, the latter, accident- 

 ally washed out of its vessel, fell on the carpet, where it was found to 

 have ruptured in two. The sundered portion healed in twenty days by 

 a prominence on the anterior ; but although surviving six months, until 

 lost accidentally, no specific indications of what would be considered a 

 head were shewn. It moved, yet from some contraction, never in a 

 straight line. Sundered extremity of fig. 13, fig. 14. Symptoms of re- 

 generation were early manifested by the mutilated trunk, which, in nine 

 months, was terminated by a white spinous regeneration of considerable 

 extent, restoring the integrity of the specimen, fig. 15. 



The regenerating cartilaginous or spinous organization is originally 

 pellucid. 



This animal involves itself in a knot. It is rare. 



L 



