88 VERMES. 



II. VERMICULI. 



The contents of the present section being merely accumulated notes, 

 scarcely forming a definite history of any particular tribe of worms, and 

 several species being associated together for want of prominent characters 

 and sufficient information, let me be permitted to introduce these miscel- 

 laneous observations, under the title of Vermiculi, to the notice of na- 

 turalists. Had I enjoyed sufficient opportunities on the occurrence of 

 specimens, more ample notes might have aided their description and clas- 

 sification, and accurate delineations might have guided both myself and 

 other enquirers. 



But such desiderata were often impracticable, therefore the subject 

 is necessarily very imperfect. 



All observations require confirmation from several or from succes- 

 sive specimens, which alone can prove the uniformity of structure or ap- 

 pearance. 



Few conclusions are deducible from injured specimens, sickly sub- 

 jects, or such as have faded colours. 



I have sometimes thought of an arrangement by which might be dis- 

 tinguished, 1. Those wanting specks or eyes ; 2. Those where specks of 

 indefinite number were evidently present ; 3. Those with two eyes ; 4. 

 Those with four eyes. Although examples of all these may be given, I 

 do not know that they are satisfactory. Besides, we always require the 

 perfect animal, being aware that it is so ; and to be assured that this uni- 

 formity of such distinctions prevails along with the other general features, 

 whether of form or of habits. 



Certain animals may be brought provisionally within the scope of 

 these paragraphs, from inability to find a better place for them ; and to 

 such they may be transferred when favourable opportunities offer. 



a. VERMICULUS CRASSUS. Plate X. fig. 11. 



Only one specimen, in a feeble state, and possibly having suffered 

 some mutilation, has occurred, so that the subject is introduced here from 



