90 



ANNELIDA. 



midst of them, is the mouth, which, at first sight, 

 seems merely like an irregularly puckered slit. But 

 watch it for a few moments ; see how it opens and 

 protrudes a large proboscis, furnished with three 

 pairs of jaws, and possessing a diameter which equals 

 that of the body within which it is enclosed, as in a 

 living sheath. Well ! is it not wonderful ? Is there 

 any animal that can surpass it in decoration ? The 

 corslet of the brightest beetle, the sparkling throat 

 of the humming-bird, would all look pale when com- 

 pared with the play of light over the rings of its 

 body, glowing in its golden threads, and sparkling 

 over its amber and coral fringes. Now, 

 let us take a lens of higher power, and 

 move the lamp in such a manner as 

 to let its rays fall on the reflector of 

 our microscope, and examine a few of 

 the hairs taken from the sides of the 

 Annelid we have been describing. To 

 the outer edge of every foot are ap- 

 pended two bundles of hairs (sette); 

 these are far stiffer than ordinary hairs, 

 and appear to be placed on either side 

 of the animal to defend it from its 

 enemies. A moment's consideration 

 will suffice to confirm this view, for 

 there is perhaps scarcely a weapon 

 invented by the murderous genius of 

 man whose counterpart could not be 

 found amongst this class of animals. 

 Here are curved blades, whose edges 

 present a prolonged cutting surface, 

 sometimes on the concave edge, as in 

 the yatagan of the Arab, sometimes on 

 the convex border, as in the oriental 

 scimitar. Next we meet with weapons 

 which remind us of the broad-sword 

 of the cuirassier, the sabre, and the 

 bayonet ; here are harpoons, fish-hooks, and cutting 

 blades of every form, loosely attached to a sharp 



FfG. 62. PUSHING 

 POLES OF SEHPULA. 



