W O R 
W R A 
able difcriminatlons may be remarked wkli regard 
to the pofition, number, and figure, of their or- 
gans of refpiration. 
Among Fly-worms with variable heads, the 
difpofition of the ftigmata, at which the trachea 
terminate, will afford feveral diflinftions of ge- 
nera. For inflance ; the Worm of the common 
flelh-fly has fix apertures in it's fligmata, three in 
each ; but the Worms of mahy other f^ies have 
only one fmall eminence in each : others have 
them cylindric and hollow, and proje<5ling like 
horns, of which fome have two, three, or more, 
differently fituated and arranged. 
The number and figure of the tentacula or 
hooks, which fupply the place of teeth, may alfo 
afford fubjeds of diftindion. The Worm of the 
common flefh-fly has two hooks, with a dart be- 
tween them; others have hooks without any 
dart; fome have only one hook; and others are 
totally deftitute of this diitindtion. The figure 
of the body, and the differences of fize and colour, 
may furnifh farther difcriminations with regard 
to the genera of the firft clafs. 
Worms of the fecond clafs, with variable heads, 
but which have the addition of legs, like thofe of 
the caterpillar clafs, have often a fort of hooks 
faflened to them: they have alfo a long flefhy 
tail, capable of contra6tion or extenfion, and 
hence they have been called Rat-tailed Worms. In 
this divifion, the tail is the principal organ of re- 
fpiration; it's end being always open, and fup- 
plying the ofiice of the ftigmata in other genera. 
The third clafs of Fly- worms is compofed of 
fuch as have invariable heads, and are deftitute of 
any thing analogous to the organization of move- 
able jaws. Thefe forma very numerous family 
both in the terreftrial and aquatic kingdom; and 
all of them produce two-winged flies. 
Under this clafs Reaumur enumerates and de- 
fcribes eight genera. 
This ingenious naturalift alfo mentions Worms 
of another clafs, ufually producing four-winged 
flies, having heads of an invariable figure, and 
two teeth or moveable jaws near the aperture of 
the mouth, with the ftigmata placed on the fides 
of their bodies. The fiies produced from thefe 
are bees, wafps, ichneumons, and gall-flies. 
There is another clafs of the hexapode, or fix- 
legged Worms, without any mouth, but having 
two openings at the top of their antennae, through 
which their aliments may pafs. The formica leo 
and the puceron-eaters belong to this clafs. 
Various other diftinilions have bee;n mentioned 
by curious inveftigators of the infe<5l tribe; but 
thofe being the principal, may be fufiicient for us 
to enumerate. 
WORM-GOURD. A fpecies of taenia or 
tape-worm, the body of which is of an oblong 
form, flat on the belly, and rounded on the back. 
The fkin is foft; and the mouth is large, horizon- 
tal, and emarginated in the middle. It refembles 
the common gourd in figure; and hence it has 
received the appellation of Vermis Cucurbitinus, 
or the Gourd-worm. It is frequently found in 
the inteftines of animals. 
WORM, GOLDEN. A name by which 
fome naturalifts exprefs the aphrodita. See 
Aphrodita. 
WORM, GALLY. See Gally-Worm. 
WORM, GLOW. See Glow- Worm. 
WORM, HORSE. See Horse-Worm. 
WORM, SILK. See Silk-Worm. 
\VORMS. SEA. Animals of this kind are in- 
cluded in a fort of cafes or pipes; and may be di- 
vided into two clafTes, according to the nature o'i 
thofe cafes. In the one clafs thefe are only com - 
poled of grains of fand, fragments of fl^ells, and 
fimilar fubftances, faftened together by a viicous 
humour; in the other, they confiii of a real Aeliy 
matter. 
WORMS, AQUATIC. Infect of this kind 
are extremely numerous, and compofc miany dif- 
ferent genera. Some of thofe transforin them- 
felves into flies, without any vifibie change in 
their exterior form, by a very fingular procefs ; 
and others are capable of rcprodu6lion, in the 
manner of the polype, after being divided into any 
indefinite number of parts. 
WORMWOOD-FLY. An appellation by 
which naturalifts have exprelfed a final] black fly, 
commonly found on the leaves and ftalks of tlie 
plant from which it receives it's name, durinn- 
the months of June and July. 
WORRALL. An animal of the lizard kind, 
about four feet long, and eight inches broad; 
with a forked tongue, but no teeth. 
It is a native of Egypt, principally frequenting 
the grottos and caverns in the mountains on the 
weft of the Nile, where it ficeps during the win- 
ter, and makes it's apperance only in the hotteft 
months. 
This creature is perfeflly harmlcfs and gentle, 
feeding only on laige flics and the ii-iialler Ipecies 
of it's own genus. Mufic has been faid to have 
a moft powerful cffed: on it; but experience has 
proved this to be an ill-grounded affertion. 
WRASSE. A marine fifli, to which different 
ichthyologifts 'lave given the appellations of tur- 
dus vulgaris, tinea marina or fea-tench, and fome- 
times the old-wife. There are feveral fpecies. 
Wrasse, Ancient, or Common ; the Labrus 
Tinea of Linnseus. This fifh bears fome refem- 
blance to the carp in figure, and is covered with 
large fcales. It grows to the weight of four or 
five pounds. It's colour is very variable, red, 
yellow, and brown, being frequently intermixed 
in the fcales ; and there are five or fix longitudi- 
nal lines, alternately of a pale yellow, an olive 
colour, and a dudcy red. The nofe is long, and 
incurvated upwards; and the lips are thick and 
flefhy, extending over the jaws. The mouth is 
fmall ; the teeth are difpofed in two rows, the 
firft conic, and the fecond very minute ; byt 
neither very fliarp. In the throat, juft before 
the gullet, there are three bones, two above of 
an oblong form, and one below of a triangular 
fhape, vv'ith the furfaceof each rifing into roundifh 
protuberances; and thefe are of fingular ufe to 
the fifh in comminuting it's fhelly food before 
it arrives at the ftomach. Tl:ie dorfai fin confifls 
of fixteen fharp and fpiny rays ; and nine foft 
ones, longer than the others. The pefloral fini, 
which are large and round, are compofed of fif- 
teen rays ; the ventral finsconfiftcf fix, the firft 
ftiarp and ftrong; and the anal of three fharp 
fpines, and nine flexile. The tail is rounded at 
the extremity, and formed of fourteen foa't 
branching rays. The membranes of the fins ai:id 
tail are variegated with red and blue fpots; and 
the anterior rays of the back fin are prickly. 
The Wrafie abounds on the Englifti ihores. 
It is eaten by the poor in Cornwall and Wales, 
but is not confidered as a delicate fifh. It i?,, 
found in deep Xvater, adjacent to rocks; and will 
take 
