166 APHRODITA. 



2. APHRODITA SQUAMATA. Plate XXIV. Figs. 3, 4. 



Length of the largest specimen about two inches and half ; breadth 

 nearly one. Figure, a long oval, the body covered with a double row 

 of scales, slightly overlapping each other. The head is small, bearing 

 two antennas. The posterior extremity terminates in two bristles, which 

 want the enlargement of the aciculse. At least it is commonly less evi- 

 dent. Between the antennae are two smaller aciculae, thus both extre- 

 mities are as if forked. I do not know that the number of these second- 

 ary organs are uniformly regular. There are four black eyes. A strong 

 proboscis with a serrated margin, and containing four incurvated fangs, 

 darts from the anterior part of the body. It is generally protruded when 

 the animal is dead or dying. 



This animal presents a perplexing variety both in appearance and in 

 parts, but without enabling the observer to establish different species. 

 Also it is frequently mutilated. 



In its most ordinary form it is seen as a fine specimen, which came 

 from Shetland, with about thirteen pair of scales, which is the ordinary 

 complement. I suspect, however, that this number may be augmented 

 with age, as was conjectured to take place among the Nereids. 



As far as I can observe, the scales consist of from twelve to six- 

 teen pair. A specimen, extending twenty lines, or nearly an inch and 

 three quarters, had sixteen pair. The largest specimen I have seen, 

 had fifteen pairs remaining. The same specimen, extending about an 

 inch and three quarters, had about forty pencils on each side, be- 

 sides aciculae or long bristles. Colour of the head red, the body com- 

 monly dingy brown, belly pearly, and occasionally iridescent. That of 

 a large specimen, with at least eighteen pair of scales, was totally of 

 a fine dark azure blue ; but the belly of another was not thus distin- 

 guished. 



This animal is usually dull and languid, but it runs with considerable 

 speed. It swims with difficulty. Its natural abode is near the shore, 

 and especially under stones in shallow water. It always retreats from 



