15 



TAB. vm. 



L I N E U S longissimus. 

 Black Lhie-JVorm. 



Class 5. Vermes. Order 1. Intestina. 



Gen. Char. Animal naked, simple, not attached. 

 Body linear, smooth, depressed. Mouth beneath 

 longitudinal. 



Syn. Linens longissimus. T. W, Simmons'* s MSS. 

 Sea Longworm. Borlase's Cornwall, pi. 26./. 13. 



1 HE first intelligence I had of this animal was from 

 Colonel Montague, who informed me also of their great 

 length, but found it difficult, from their rotting, to preserve 

 them to send me. 



It seems to have been long and well known to the fisher- 

 men of the coast; but after they have told one that it is 

 many fathoms in length, and that though they are continually 

 bawling them in as they would a rope, they never find the 

 extremity, they arc then sufficiently satisfied that one knows 

 enough of the matter ; and persuasion or money will scarcely 

 procure specimens from them. 



*' Length many feet. Breadth one-third of an inch. Colour 

 towards the head black ; towards the opposite extremity it 

 becomes gradually of a light brown with paler longitudinal 

 streaks. The extremity nearest the mouth is slightly tapering, 

 emarginate, and marked with a transverse semicircular line. 



