TUBE OF PANTHALIS. 179 



out again, possibly either with the object of shaking the 

 fine grains of mud amongst the threads, or of causing the 

 latter to become entangled. Rather long rests were made 

 between each spell of weaving, possibly to afford time for 

 further secretion of the threads. The action of the 

 "weaving feet," as described above, would result in an 

 arrangement of the threads approximately parallel with 

 each other, in a direction transverse to that of the length 

 of the tube, and upon examining, with the microscope, 

 part of the cobweb formed against the glass in the burrow, 

 it was found that this was actually the case. I ought, 

 however, to add that in subsequent instances this regu- 

 larity of direction was not always observable ; the cobweb 

 being of a dense description similar to that formed by 

 some spiders. 



The worm continued its weaving operations at intervals 

 during the morning until about noon, and then retired 

 into its burrow. It being impossible for me to remain 

 longer at Port Erin, I decided to convey Panthalis in its 

 tank to Sheffield, and there continue my observations. 

 This, with some difficulty was accomplished, and I was 

 fortunately able to keep the animal alive until the 17th of 

 September, a period of 23 days from the date of its capture. 



Shortly after arrival in Sheffield the worm settled down 

 in its new quarters, and after clearing the openings of its 

 tube seemed habitually to lie with its head at one or other 

 of these points, the two long palps extended, or resting on 

 the mud externally. In this position it is most probably 

 watching for prey. On one occasion, when the palps had 

 remained thus outstretched for many hours, I feared the 

 animal was dead, and, in order to test it, gently raised one 

 of them with a quill, whereupon Panthalis attacked the 

 quill savagely with its Proboscis. 



During its life at Sheffield Panthalis afforded me an 



