112 
SUPPLEMENT 
nothing but simple and fleshy filaments, similar to those 
which are attached to the rings, and only a little larger ; their 
oesophagus can re-enter and come out so as to represent a 
species of proboscis. When it is altogether elongated exter- 
nally, the aperture of the gizzard presents itself, and with it 
four small teeth that are there attached, two above and tw r o 
below r . This gizzard is fleshy, and very strong : the intes- 
tinal canal is straight, and gives out on each side a multitude 
of coeca which terminate sometimes by a simple dilatation, 
sometimes by some ramiiications. 
The blood vessels of the aphrodites are a little smaller in 
proportion than those of the nereides and the arenicolse ; 
nevertheless, it is easy to perceive them, and also to demon- 
strate that they are filled with a red fluid. Their nervous 
system is very apparent, and consists in a medullary cordon, 
which predominates through the whole length of the belly, 
and is swelled into as many ganglia as there are segments in 
the body. 
It is said that the sexes are separated in the aphrodites, and 
that they are oviparous. In certain seasons the body of the 
female is found full of eggs, which swim in a liquid, and that 
of the males full of milt ; but no internal organs have been 
found destined to produce them, nor external apertures to 
evacuate them. 
We shall now proceed to the third and last order — 
Abranchia. 
The genus Lumbricus was indicated originally by the au- 
thors of antiquity, and admitted successively, under the same 
denomination, by all the modern zoologists, except by M. Sa- 
vigny. Linnseus, Gmelin, and his follow ers, who are very nume- 
rous, place this genus in the division of external worms. M. 
Cuvier at first imitated Linnseus ; but he gave to the division 
of the worms in wdiich he placed the lumbrici, the name of red- 
