12 



which we find ihemlodoed, is effected by a menflruum fimi- 

 hr to the gaftric juice fo material to the digeftive facukies 

 of the flomach. 



The difcovery of a new fpecies of Teredo on the coafi of 

 theifland of Btittoo, near Sumatra, by Mr. Griffiths, de- 

 fcribed in the Philofophical TranJaElions of the Royal Society 

 for 1 8o&, with oblervations by Everard Home, Efq. is ex- 

 tremely interefting, not only on account of the enormous 

 fize of its teftaceous tube, but that its habits will ferve 

 to prove beyond doubt, that the fliells attached to tliefe ani- 

 mals, termed the boring fliells, are not eflential to the pur- 

 pofe of perforating timber, or other compa6l bodies, fince 

 the Teredo Gigantea inhabits the mud at the bottom of the 

 ocean, where no fuch fuppofed apparatus for boring is re- 

 quired ; and yet it is poflefled of very fimilar fhclls to thofe. 

 of Teredo navalis* 



We do not intend to enter upon an account of the inter- 

 nal flru6ture of the animal ; this has been executed with 

 great attention and ability by Mr. Home, profefTor of com- 

 parative anatomy, and more properly belongs to Helmintho- 

 logy than Conchology ; for althougli the latter as a detached 

 fcience may receive much aid by a ftri6l examination of the 

 external form of tellaceous animals, little advantage can be 

 expe6led to accrue to the Teftaceologifi by dillc^lion of 



fuch 



* The largest tube of Teredo Giganlea described is 5 feet 4 incites in leiigll;, 

 9 inclies ill circumference at the larger end, and 'Zh inches at the smaller. — 

 For furtiier particulars concerning this shell, and f.r the anatomical dcscriptiou 

 of the auiinal of Teredo navalis, we tefer to the original. 



