Queries and Answers. 481 
and when its head and body are above the surface, and its fins, which re- 
semble hands, are visible, it may be easily mistaken by superstitious mariners 
for a semi-human fish, or mermaid. (Jwuret de Londres.) What is a Du- 
gong?— W. Feb. 11. 1830. [One of the Cetacea. Cond.] 
Lhe curious Worm found by your correspondent W. W., and described 
p- 103., is, as he rightly conjectures, a species of Gérdius, so called from 
the complicated knot which they are capable of forming with their long and 
thread-like bodies. I once found them in considerable numbers, after shower 'y 
weather, on a bed of young turnips, during the early part of summer, in this 
vicinity, “having discovered them by the cir rcumstance mentioned by W. WW: 
of the areater length of the body being elevated above the herbage, and 
waving to and fro in the air. The gar den in which these occurred was also 
walled i in, but had a small well or spring, not far distant from the bed of 
turnips, and from which all the seed-beds were watered in dry weather ; 
from which I, at the time, supposed they were derived. Whether this 
was the case; or whether their ova were brought thither by the winds, and 
developed themselves amongst the moist leaves of the turnips, and that 
they are really terrestrial, must remain undetermined ; ; as also the object of 
their curious movements in the air; and the power which has been given 
them of mounting along the stems and leaves of plants, which has been 
denied to every other kind of worm with which we are acquainted. A 
very absurd opinion is still held in regard to the Gordius, or hair-worm, by 
the vulgar, which it may be worth while to mention, viz. that they owe 
their origin to the long hair of the mane and tail of hcrses, which, on’ 
remaining a sufficient time in water, they conceive to become animated, and 
converted into these slender worms. —J. P. T. Cork, March, 1829. 
Substance drawn up at Sea (fig. 117.), in 7 or 8 fathoms Water. Oct. 23. 
117 
"Wy 
fe 
me tle 
rN 
go8 
fo =s eS dis = | 
i; a. = es eg = ee 
ffi oe = Sg 
ne < isis aks Wi é 
a Wn i 
ay 
1829. — It was about the size of a child’s head, but depressed. It had 
been attached to the ground on the under side, but was torn off: on the 
upper, flattish, irregular, with prominences like the teats of a cow, only 
somewhat less, and turned a little on one side. Consistence rather soft 
and yielding, but not retaining an impression; covered with a skin the 
surface studded with flat tubercles, each with a mark in the centre, but no 
perceptible orifice. Colour, a bright yellow. Internally, it is full of irregular 
channels, leading from the surface, and freely anastomosing. Query, its 
scientific name, situation, and relations ?—J. Couch. Polperro, June, 1830. 
Three new Species of Rubi (?).— The following is a description of three 
Rubi which TI have met with in this neighbourhood, and which are not 
mentioned in Sir J. E. Smith’s English Flora. Probably one or two will 
prove to be species new to this country. If you should consider this 
