134 MAY. 



throughout by the same impulse ; and, moreover, every 

 division, even if it is not more than the eighth or tenth 

 part of the cre-iture, will become complete and perfect 

 in all its organs. 1 



You would naturally expect to find the creature's 

 mouth at the front end, where the two tentacles are 

 placed, and the group of eyes, but you would search for 

 it there in vain. It is, in fact, situated most strangely 

 in the very midst of the belly; that is, at the very 

 centre of the inferior surface. And its structure is not 

 less peculiar than its locality. It consists of an orifice, 

 in the midst of which lies a sort of trumpet of enormous 

 extent when opened, but when not in active use thrown 

 into many folds, which, when the animal wishes to seize 

 prey, are thrust forth, and being partly opened, take the 

 appearance of many irregular tentacles radiating in all 

 directions, at the centre of which is the oesophagus, lead- 

 ing immediately into a much ramified intestine. The 

 name which is given to this elegant and interesting 

 creature is Eurylcpta vittata? 



But here is another member of the same class of 

 strange creatures. On turning up a large flat stone, we 

 expose to the light of day what might readily be mis- 



1 Jones's Animal Kingdom, p. 90. 



3 This species, together with the following, is represented on Plate XV. ; 

 the latter coiled among the stones, and preparing to attack a Serpula. 



