16 



It appears capable of elongating itself, something in the 

 manner of a leech. The mouth is situated half an inch 

 distant from the apex, and forms a longitudinal aperture of 

 three-quarters of an inch in length (to us it did not appear 

 to be above a quarter of an inch). Motion very slow. 



^' This animal is frequently dredged up by the fishermen 

 at Newhaven in the Frith of Forth. If plunged whilst living 

 into alcohol, it contracts, and appears to be irregularly an- 

 nulated. When permitted to remain in the same water 

 many days, the posterior extremity becomes putrid and 

 decomposed, whilst the other part remains entire and ca- 

 pable of motion. It is so fragile that the entire animal has 

 not yet been procured. A detached piece measured twelve 

 feet, and the fishermen at Newhaven assert that they have 

 met with pieces more than as vadiny fathom in length." 

 The above description was taken from the MSS. of Mr. 

 T. W. Simmons of Edinburgh, to whom I am indebted for 

 specimens of this extraordinary animal. 



