388 



RADIATA. 



coiled up with beautiful regularity. On one oc- 

 casion, we found three of these Worms in the ab- 

 domen, of the respective lengths of l-i, jty, and 3 

 inches ; and on another a single one, which, un- 

 coiled, measured five inches. In both these in- 

 stances, the body of the Earwig was much distended. 

 But a species called the Guinea-worm (F. Medinen- 

 sis) grows to a much larger size, being as thick as 

 a pigeon's quill, and sometimes ten feet in length. 

 It is abundant in hot climates, where it attacks Man, 

 by insinuating itself beneath the skin, often caus- 

 ing great agony and convulsions. When any part 

 of it is exposed, it is seized and drawn out very 

 gradually for fear of breaking it. 



Even these, however, are insignificant compared 

 with the horrible Tape-worms, (Tcenia,*) which are 

 too well-known as inhabiting the human bowels. 

 They are flat, and composed of a vast number of 

 square joints, which become very slender towards 

 the head, and so tender that specimens with the 

 fore parts unbroken are rarely found. The head 

 is a square organ, furnished with a mouth in the 

 centre, armed with spines, and surrounded by four 

 suckers. They grow to an immense length, the 

 common species (T. Solium) being sometimes thirty 

 feet in length, and another (T. Laid] more than a 

 hundred feet. It may easily be imagined how ex- 

 hausting must be the incessant attacks of these 

 merciless harpies, almost realizing the fabled vulture 

 of Prometheus. 



* Taivita, tainia, a ribbon. 



