SEA-UECHmS AND SEA-CU0UMBEE8. 



343 



WHEEL rS OmBODOTA. 



Some of the more worm-like members of this class 

 have, however, a skeleton composed of pieces imbedded 

 in their skin, of even more re- 

 markable shapes than these. 

 One of these is the Chirodota 

 violacea — a native of the south- 

 ern coasts of Europe. We have 

 indeed a British species of the 

 same genus, a specimen of 

 which is in my possession, but 

 I have vainly examined the 

 skin for any structure anal- 

 ogous to this.* In the Medi- 

 terranean species the skin, especially of the beUy-side, 

 is described as filled with plates exactly resembling 

 broad and thin wheels of glass, supported by four, five, 

 or six radiating spokes, and having the inner edge of 

 the hoop cut into teeth of excessive delicacy. 



Another animal remarkable for its cuticular furni- 

 ture is the genus Syna^pta, which is very similar in form, 

 and closely allied to the Chirodota. It is very common 

 in the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas, but has not yet 

 been taken on the British coasts. I would counsel you, 

 however, to have your eyes open if you have the op- 

 portunity of searching our coasts ; for, as Miiller found 

 one species, the Synapta inhmrens, on the shores of 

 Denmark, it is not at all unlikely that we may possess 

 either it or some other. Should it ever come into your 

 hands, slit open the skin of the belly, where you will 



* The most careful and repeated search has not availed me to find in 

 the skin the least trace of calcareous atoms ; but this may possibly be 

 because I had unfortunately preserved my specimen in acetate of alumina 

 and the acetic acid has perhaps dissolved the lime. 



