506 
CHERURIDJE. 
illustrations of this genus— leaves little doubt but that 
such is the case, although it might be thought that the 
large plumose antennae would considerably interfere with 
the action of the mouth in working the progressive course 
of the tube. On the other hand the great and powerful 
antennae cannot be used for the purpose of rubbing 
down the wood, or we should find evidence in the worn 
hairs at the extremity of the organ.* 
We believe that the posterior pair of caudal ap- 
pendages are important organs in assisting the animal 
to effect a retrograde movement when within its chamber. 
When free in the water its movements are very active, 
swimming chiefly on the back ; and Professor Allman says 
that when out of the water it is capable of taking a 
considerable spring, the immensely-developed branch of 
the last pair of caudal appendages doubtless acting in 
the same manner as the fork of the Poduridae. 
It appears to us singular, that as the subject of the 
destruction of submarine architectural timber has been 
so much studied and examined for so many years, in an 
economical point of view, this animal, although so much 
larger than the well-known Limnoria , should not have 
been described until 1839, when it was found by Pro- 
fessor Philippi at Trieste. Some specimens, labelled 
Britain, in the collection of the British Museum, were 
obtained by Dr. Leach, but their locality has not been 
preserved, although supposed to have been taken by 
himself or Col. Montagu in Devonshire or Cornwall. 
Early in 1847 it was procured at Dublin in the piles of 
* Being desirous of studying this subject, upon being placed upon the 
Committee “For Enquiring into the best Mode of Preserving Submarine 
Timber from the Ravages of the Teredo and other Animals,” Mr. Spence 
Bate applied, through the Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard at 
Plymouth, for permission to make some investigations in that naval arsenal, 
a favour which the Admiralty refused. 
