THE ANNULATA. 669 



that of the scorpion, so that the venomous secretion is forced into the 

 wound by the very action of biting. 



The member of this family scientifically known as the Arthronomalus 

 loagicornis is found in England, and is very common in some local- 

 ities. It is in no way conspicuous for its dimensions, but is, however, 

 remarkable on another account. It has the power of giving out a tol- 

 erably strong phosphorescent light, which is visible only after dark, but 

 is then very conspicuous, and has often caused the centipede to be mis- 

 taken for a glow-worm. It is not unfrequeutly found within peaches, 

 apricots, plums, and similar fruits when they are very ripe, and lies 

 comfortably coiled up in the little space between the stone and the 

 fruit, where the sweetest juices lie. The color of this centipede is yel- 

 low ; its head is deep rust-color ; its antennae are very hairy, and four 

 times as long as the head segment. There are from fifty-one to fifty- 

 five pairs of legs. Its length varies from two inches and a half to 

 three inches. 



ANNULATA. 



A new class of animals now comes before us. These creatures are 

 technically called Annulata, or sometimes Annelida, on account of 

 the rings, or annuli, of which their bodies are composed. They may 

 be distinguished from the Julidse by the absence of true feet, although 

 in very many species the place of feet is supplied by bundles of bristles 

 set along the sides. The respiration is carried on either by means of 

 external gills, internal sacs, or even through the skin itself In most 

 of the Annulata the body is long and cylindrical, but in some it is 

 flattened and oval. The number of rings is very variable, even in the 

 same species. 



The group of worms which comes first on our list is remarkable for 

 the architectural powders of its members. In order to protect their 

 soft-skinned body and delicate gills they build for themselves a res- 

 idence into which they exactly fit. This residence is in the form of a 

 tube, and in some cases, as in the Serpulse, is of a very hard shelly 

 substance, and in some, as the Terebella, is soft and covered with grains 

 of sand and fragments of shells. 



The beautiful Serpula is now very familiar to us through the 

 medium of marine aquaria, its white shell, exquisite fan-like branchiae, 

 and brilliant operculum, having lived and died in many an inland 

 town where a living inhabitant of the ocean had never before been 

 seen. The Serpula is able to travel up and down its tube by means 

 of the bundles of bristles which project from the rings along the sides, 

 and to retract itself with marvellous rapidity. It has no eyes, and yet 

 is sensible of light. For example, if a Serpula be fully protruded, 

 with its gill-fans extended to their utmost, and blazing in all its scarlet- 



