138 LUMBRICUS. 



The best specimens I have had were from Zetland. 



Though the Lumbricus marinus appears a strong and hardy animal, 

 it is of difficult preservation in confinement. The vessels receiving it 

 should be deep, and contain a quantity of sand, always in a humid state, 

 because they immediately shelter themselves, and absorbing it profusely, 

 the pyramidal rolls are formed on the surface as it is discharged. 



This animal is vernacularly called the lug or lung worm ; and it is 

 very extensively used as bait, but, where accessible, mussels are preferred. 

 These animals are dispersed in countless myriads on the various coasts of 



Scotland. 







PLATE XIX. 



FIG. 1. Lumbricus marinus, Arenicola piscatorum, common species; a, 6. 

 branchiae. 



2. Globular anterior. 



3. Branchia, enlarged. 



4. Lumbricus marinus, another species, or a variety of the former. 



5. Globular anterior. 



6. Branchiae, enlarged. 



7. Substances conjectured ova. 



Many of the Lumbrici are so much more indistinctly characterised 

 than the preceding that I hesitate attempting to describe them, from 

 my conviction of being unable to do so otherwise than in a very imper- 

 fect manner. But considering it possible that some one feature, which 

 others have not had an opportunity of observing, may occur in my 

 specimens, I am induced to say a few words on the subject, trusting to 

 better occasions whereby it shall be amplified. 



c. LTJMBRICTTS CAHTATTTS. Plate XVII., figs. 8, 9. 



Length, two or three inches ; thickness, half a line ; body round ; 

 anterior extremity conical, pointed ; posterior extremity obtuse. The 

 body is composed of numerous segments, each armed with three minute 

 pencils of bristles, one on each side, the third on the middle of the back. 



