THE SPOON-WORM. 



717 



having a little round knob at the extremity of the point. They proceed to the sands at 

 low water, and drop one of these rods into each burrow, where they leave it for twelve 

 hours. During this time the Sipunculus is sure to swallow the button, and as the 

 elastic tissues contract it is unable to release itself ; and when the tide has again re- 

 treated, the rod, with the Sipunculus attached, is drawn out of the burrow by the fishermen. 

 The species which we are now examining is very careful of its own comfort, and in 

 order to make the entrance of its shell exactly suitable to its own size it stops up the 

 aperture with sand and similar substances. The individual which is represented in the 

 illustration, and which was drawn from a living specimen, had used both sand and 

 small pebbles in this work. 



LYING by the side of the sipunculus is a rather curious creature, represented as lying 

 on the ground, and notable for the long tuft-like appendage at its extremity. This is 

 the TAILED PRIAPULUS, a species which is found in the southern seas, and occasionally 



Priapulus caudatus. 



SPOON-WORM. -T/ia/assema Neptunl. 

 Syrinx audus. 



Slpuaculus Bernhardus. 



(Two figures.) 



taken off our own coasts. The curious bundle of threads at its extremity is supposed 

 to serve the purpose of respiratory organs. It has a retractile proboscis, but no tentacles 

 round the mouth, 



The SYRINX is distinguished from the Sipunculus by the proboscis, which in these 

 creatures is rather short, and has an indented tentacular fold round the mouth. The 

 figure shows an example with the proboscis protruded. The generic name, Syrinx, is 

 derived from the resemblance of the creature to the reed from which the ancient pipes 

 were made. 



IN the middle of the illustration are seen two smaller figures of different shapes. 

 These, however, represent the same species, and are here given in order to show the 

 wonderful capacity for changing its shape. The SPOON-WORM is so called on account 

 of the spoon-like appendage to the proboscis. Behind the proboscis are two shining 

 hook-like bristles. All the members of this genus are remarkable for the wonderful 

 power of contraction and expansion possessed by the skin, and the extraordinary manner 



