( ) 
flefliy Fibres, about the Sixth part of an Inch broad, 
ran diredly along the middle of the Back, from the 
Head down to the Tail : This flefliy Stripe fent cut 
from each fide, like Co many Rays, Thirty fix feveral 
pair of fmaller lateral Mufcles, which, by the confide- 
rable Interftice between, I could eafily diftinguifh from 
each other, making fo regular a Figure altogether, that 
they might very aptly be refembled to the Spiae, or 
back Bone of the F^^r Marinus, or common Plats- 
fijhy when it is intire with all its Ribs or Tranrverfe Fr^- 
cejjisy iffuing by pairs from both fides of each Vertehra^ 
from the Head down to the Tail in this manaer eve- 
ry particular Foot and Fin werefupplied with their Cor- 
refpondent Mufcles, to give them Motion, either toge- 
ther or apart, as the Neceffity or Defign of the Ani- 
mi! required. And moreover, confidering this (brt of 
Mufcular Mechanifm, with the Taper (hape of the Bo* 
dy, and likewife the Pcfture and Ufe of the many 
Prickles interfperfed among the Hairy Shag that cover- 
ed the fides it feems very evident to me, that, be- 
fides its progreffive Motion, it had alfo the Power (as 
have moft of themany footed Land-Reptiles, and fome 
Water Infe&s I have qbferved) of Contrading its Bo- 
dy in fuch a way, that bending its Head inwards, it 
rourd the reft of ihe Body round it as a Center, ma- 
king a Figure like a Rope coiled into a Helix, and in 
this pofture guarded it felf from Violences that might 
annoy it. For fuch was the ftape of its Body , that fb 
roul'd up it made a fort of Globofe Figure,! beftt almoft 
^uite round with fliarp Prickles ; fo we may often 
fee the large Hairy Caterpillers , that have not a lit- 
tle refemblance to this Creature, when molefted by 
any offenfive Obje<a, ftrait fecure themfelves from the 
"Violence, by gathering up their Body in this manner, 
and 
