WORMS. 323 



also agree with the Annelidans. Draparnaud, 

 from the approximation of the points on the 

 head of P. cornuta, to the tentacles of Lymtiea, 

 thinks that they form a link between the Mol- 

 luscans and the Worms. Reproductive powers 

 have certainly been observed in the former, but 

 only in the reproduction of mutilated organs, 

 for a snail or slug cut in pieces, would not form 

 so many individual animals. Bonnet has given 

 an account of reproductive powers in one 

 of the Hispid Worms 1 of Lamarck, supposed 

 by Gmelin to be the Nais barbata of Muller, 

 and in a species of fresh water worm belong- 

 ing to the Annelidans, which, if I may so 

 speak, grows from cuttings, and like the Planarice, 

 can produce two heads. These last are probably 

 not far removed from the flukes, 2 though iheir 

 station is so different. Whether they live on 

 animal or vegetable matter is not certainly 

 ascertained ; to look at their proboscis it seems 

 rather calculated to fix them as a sucker, to 

 some animal, and so to derive their nutriment 

 from it, like their analogue, the leech, especially 

 as the marine species are supposed to be car- 

 nivorous. 



Their wonderful reproductive powers appear 

 to be given them by a kind Providence to pre- 

 vent their total annihilation ; at least, it is stated, 

 that at certain periods of the year, their numbers 



1 Vers hispides. 2 Fusciola. 



