WORMS _ 



discover a set of oval or kidney-shaped plates, which are 

 called the back-shields (dorsal elytrd)\ these are flat, and 

 are planted upon the back by little foot-stalks, set on near 

 the margin of the under surface: they are arranged in two 

 rows, overlapping each other at the edge. These kidney- 

 shaped shields, which can be detached with slight vio- 

 lence, are studded over with little transparent oval bodies, 

 set on short foot-stalks, which are perhaps delicate organs 

 of touch. The intermediate antennae, the tentacles, and 

 the cirri, or filaments of the feet, are similarly fringed with 

 these little appendages, which resemble the glands of cer- 

 tain plants, and have a most singular appearance. If we 

 remove the shields, we discover, on each side of the body, 

 a row of wart-like feet, from each of which project two 

 bundles of spines of exquisite structure. The bundles, 

 expanding on all sides, resemble so many sheaves of wheat, 

 or you may more appropriately fancy you behold the 

 armory of some belligerent sea-fairy, with stacks of arms 

 enough to accoutre a numerous host But if you look 

 closely at the weapons themselves, they rather resemble 

 those which we are accustomed to wonder at in missionary 

 museums the arms of some ingenious but barbarous peo- 

 ple from the South Sea Islands than such as are used in 

 civilized warfare. Here are long lances, made like scythe- 

 blades, set on a staff with a hook at the tip, as if to capt- 

 ure the fleeing foe and bring him within reach of the blade. 

 Among them are others of similar shape, but with the edge 

 cut into delicate slanting notches, which run along the sides 

 of the blade like those on the edge of our reaping-hooks. 

 These are chiefly the weapons of the lower bundle; those 

 of the upper are still more imposing. The outmost are 

 short curved clubs, armed with a row of shark's teeth to 



