146 ANNELIDES. 



C1.ESPINE, Sav. — Glossopora, Johns*. 



The Clespines have a widened body, a posterior cup only, and a 

 probosciform mouth without a sucker ; some of tliem, however, may 

 be found to belong to the family of the Planarife f . 1 consider them 

 more closely allied to the Phylline, Oken J, and to the MulacobdellcE, 

 Blainv,§, which also have broad bodies, and are deprived of a pro- 

 boscis and anterior sucker. They are parasitic animals. 



GoKDius, Lin. 



The body resembling a thread, the only mark of the articulations 

 being slight, transverse plicse ; it has neither feet, branchiae, nor ten- 

 tacula. Internally, however, a nervous system is perceptible in a 

 knotted cord. Perhaps it will be necessary in the end to place them 

 among the cavitary Intestina, like the Nemertes. 



They live in fresh water, in the mud, and in inundated grounds 

 which they perforate in every direction. 



The different species are not yet Avell distinguished ; the most 

 common — Gordius aqualicus, L., is several inches in lengtli, 

 almost as fine as a hair, and brown, with blackish extremities. 



* The Glossobdell^e, Blaiuv. 



f Hinido complanafu, L., or sexoculafa, Bergm., Stock. Mem., 1757, pi. vi, f. 

 12 — 14 ; — Hir. frioculufa, lb., f. 9 — 11 ; — Hir. ht/alina, L., Gm., Trembley, Polyp., 

 pi. vii, f. 7 ; — Clespiite puhido!>a, Moq. Tand., pi. iv, f. 3, &c. 



+ Epibdell^, Blaiiiv. ; — Hit: hi2)po(jlossi, Mull., Zool. Dan., liv. 1 — 4. 



§ liir. yrossa, Miill., Zool. Dan., xxi. 



