THE BAY OF BISCAY. 179 



the head, and this with evident proofs of spontaneity 

 and intelligence. In moving, the tail went first, 

 explored the objects without touching them, and 

 turned aside from obstacles that lay in its path ; in a 

 word, it acted as if it were the seat of distinct vision, 

 and as if it were directed by a clear will. Neverthe- 

 less, notwithstanding the many hours which I devoted 

 to these observations, I was unable to discover either 

 a crystalline lens or a retina ; and hence my convic- 

 tion in reference to so delicate a question as this 

 could not be conclusive. 



At length, among the Coralline?, those small 

 Algse which cover the rocks with their closely com- 

 pressed tufts as the moss mantles over the stone, 

 I discovered the Polyophthalmians (Polyophthtdmia). 

 Here there was no longer any room for doubt; the 

 fable of Argus was realised before me on the most 

 incontestible evidence. Imagine to yourself a nearly 

 cylindrical little worm, of a golden yellow, about an 

 inch in length, and armed with two rows of seta?, 

 whose length increased from before backwards, and 

 you may perhaps form some idea of the aspect pre- 

 sented by the Polyophthalmians in a state of repose. 

 In the sand where it passes its life this animal 

 moves with incredible rapidity, by means of the 

 general contractions of its body and the setaB which 

 serve it in place of feet, but as soon as it wishes to 

 swim freely in the water, or merely to place itself 

 in such a manner that the little animals with which 

 it is nourished may be within reach of its mouth, 

 two large ciliated structures, which are placed on 



N 2 



