356 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
A comparatively small 
number of these moss-animals 
are inhabitants of fresh-water, 
forming brown tubular aggre- 
gations on the under side of 
the leaves of water-lilies or 
other submerged objects. It 
is interesting to observe that 
the tentaculaf" crown in almost 
all these fresh-water species 
is horseshoe-shaped, instead of 
like a shuttle-cock, as in the 
marine forms. One very not- 
able fresh-water species is re- 
markable for the circumstance 
that in place of horny tubes 
the component individuals 
secrete a common transparent 
gelatinous matrix, which is 
provided with a creeping-base, 
wherewith the colony-stock is 
enabled to travel over the 
surfaces of the water-plants among which it lives, or up the glass sides of an aquarium. 
In some respects, and more especially their earlier developmental phases, the Moss-animals 
show affinities with the Lamp-shells, while the tentacular crown of the adult individual is 
closely imitated in certain worms. 
Photo by IV. Saville-Kentf F 2 . 6 '.] 
\_Milford-on-Sea 
MOSS-ANIMALS 
These coral-like masses are composed of many thousand closely united dwelling- 
cells of microscopic dimensions 
CHAPTER V 
WORMS 
T he Worms and their allies embrace a numerous assemblage of animals which exhibit a 
remarkable amount of variation both in structure and habits. A fundamental distinction 
which serves to separate readily even the most highly organised members of the group 
from the other articulate or jointed-bodied animals, such as Crabs, Insects, or Centipedes, 
is furnished by the character of the locomotive appendages. These in the Worm Tribe never 
assume a jointed character, but take the form of unjointed membranous processes which may 
or may not be supplemented by bristles. Frequently bristles alone constitute the essential 
locomotive organs. In certain groups, such as the Leeches, Flat-worms, Thread-worms, and 
others, even these are unrepresented. 
The appropriate title of Brlstle-WORMS has been conferred upon the section in which 
the locomotive organs take the form of bristles. Among these the COMMON Earth-WORM is 
included. At first sight the worm’s body appears to be perfectly smooth and naked ; it 
is found, however, on closer investigation to be furnished, according to the species, with 
either two or four longitudinal rows of fine, hook-like bristles. Although these bristles 
project but slightly above the surface of the skin, they constitute very effective aids to 
locomotion, enabling the animal to obtain a secure grip upon the surface of the groind 
over which it may be traveling. Progression under such conditions is effected, in fact, on 
the same principle as that of the snake, the ends of the stiff bristles with which the segments 
are armed fulfilling the same r6le as the projecting edges of the reptile’s scales. Earth- 
worms are chiefly vegetable-feeders, dragging into their holes fallen leaves, straws, and every 
