APHRODITA. 171 



Scotish seas, and in every place, it has invariably attracted the notice 

 of many who have not otherwise much curiosity regarding the works of 

 creation. 



The body of the largest extends eight inches, commonly it does not 

 exceed five, of a long oval figure, with extremities proper tionably acute. 

 The back is somewhat convex, the belly flat. Short, thick, brown fur covers 

 the middle part of the former, surrounded, especially towards the sides, 

 with long, bright, green and yellow iridescent hair, very beautiful to be- 

 hold. Intermixed with this are transverse irregular rows of long, stiff, 

 thorny, brown bristles. Two cartilaginous-looking flexible antennae, 

 about half an inch long, issue from the head, besides some other organs. 

 Possibly only two real antennae belong to the Aphrodita. Belly smooth, 

 soft, dark, full of transverse ridges. A row of peduncles wkh bristles, 

 borders each side of the body, serving to aid the motion of the animal ; 

 but its sluggishness is excessive. It scarcely ever moves, it is always 

 languid, remaining nearly in the same position, with the posterior ex- 

 tremity of the body recurved, and discharging a stream of water from an 

 orifice there. 



Baster remarks, that this Aphrodita shewed a certain turgidity, by 

 which it was enlarged a third more at one time than at another. Probably 

 its aspect is modified by absorption. The stream is discharged so forcibly, 

 as to form a slight vortex at the neighbouring surface of the water. 



Naturalists have bestowed considerable attention in explaining the 

 structure of the Aphrcdita aculeata, particularly MM. Andouin and Milne 

 Edwards, as may be seen in their works. It is explained that the body 

 consists of thirty-nine segments ; that the elytraa or scales, concealed by 

 the covering of the back from external view, amount to about thirty, or 

 fifteen pair, thin, smooth, and almost circular, the larger being in the 

 middle, and the others decreasing towards each extremity. There is an 

 aperture in the surface of the head in connection with the respiratory 

 functions, from the position of the branchiae under the surface of the 

 back. 



None, of many specimens living several months in my possession, have 

 fed on any substance offered to them. 



