29G Ai’iiiiODiTiD^. ANNELIDA. Aphkoditid^. 
twist themselves with violence as if they would frighten 
and green play upon their surface in a thousand differ- 
awav their foe their contortions ; but these are weak 
etit ways, and these colours, often iridescent, harmonize 
resources in comparison with the protection tliey derive 
perfectly with the ever-changing reflections of the rings 
from their panoply of spines and bristles, and it is 
of their body. The wing of a butterfly has not received 
curious to remark that as these diminish in size and 
a more brilliant decoration than these worms concealed 
piquancy, and become belter adapted to locomotion 
at the bottom of the sea, and often hidden in black and 
than offence, the worms, as if conscious of their defence- 
fetid mud.” — {M. Edwards.) Cuvier was so struck 
less state, forsake the nomade life, and seek additional 
with tins beautiful play of brilliant colours that he 
security by digging themselves furrows for retreat in 
says it does not yield in beauty either to the plumag* 
the sand and mud.” — {Johnston.) These bristles, which, 
of the humming birds or the most brilliant preciour 
as stated above, can be retracted within the body and 
stones. 
nrotruded again at the will of the animal, are distin- 
MM, Audouin and Milne Edwards, who have 
giiished into spines {acicuU), and bristles properly so 
studied the Annelides very carefully, divide this order 
called {festucm). The spines, or aciculi, are stiff and 
into eight families — I. Aphroditidoc ; II. Amphino- 
very resisting, and are distinguished from the bristles 
midm) III. Ennicidm; \Y . Nereididce ■, Y.Arinulm; 
by being larger and being placed in the centre. The 
VI. Peripatidai; VII. ChwtopteridcB ; VIII. Areni- 
colidm. 
Fig. 201. 
Family I.— APHRODITIDiE 
( The Sea-mice). 
The Sea-mice are of an oval, oblong, or linear- 
elongate and depressed form, the body composed of a 
deflnite number of segments, and the back covered 

with a series of scales, or elytra, disposed in two rows. 
^ — 
The species belonging to this family are amongst the 
most highly organized of all the Annelides. The head 
is distinct from the other rings of the bodjq and pos- 
sesses eyes placed on its vertex, generally four in 
number and arranged in two pairs; true antennse, in 
/ 
general to the number of five, sometimes three, 
— , the, odd one being placed in the centre ; a 
— 
cylindrical proboscis fringed with papillae round 
— T^. the orifice and armed with four iaw-s united in 
their cutting edges placed opposite each other. 
Spines of Aphrodita. 
The feet are usually very distinct, well devel- 
oped, and composed of two branches, each 
bristles, or festucce, are various and very remarkable in 
furnished with a spine, with bristles, and with cirrhi. 
structure, and their uses are well worthy of attention. 
These feet, however, are not uniform in structure, for 
Did our space permit we could dilate ar great length 
some are furnished with a superior cirrhus and usually 
upon this subject, but limited as we necessarily are, 
with branchiae, but have no elytra, whilst others have 
we can only refer to the writings of Audouin and 
scales or elytra but want the cirrhi and branchiae; 
Milne Edwards, Oersted, Dr. Johnston, &c., for further 
and these difl'erent kinds of feet alternate for a definite 
information, and to the accompanying illustrations 
space along the sides. The branchiae, when present. 
(fig. 201) of a few of their most interesting forms. 
are only rudimentary and generally concealed. But 
These figures are highly magnified, the weapons 
one of the most remarkable parts of the external 
themselves being extremely small though exquisitely 
structure of the Sea-mice is the existence of these 
formed. Their number in some of this tribe of Anne- 
elytra mentioned above. These are large mem- 
lides is immense. Some species have been found to 
branous scales which form two rows placed lorigitudi- 
possess five hundred feet on each .side. Each foot has 
nally along the back of the animal, and are fixed 
two branches, and each branch has at least one spine 
to the base of the superior branch of the feet by 
and one bunch of bristles, some of them simple and 
means of a short pedicle. They are formed of two 
some of them compound. These individuals then have 
cutaneous or epidermoid layers, applied the one again.^t 
two thousand spines at least ; and if we reckon ten 
the other, but capable of being separated so as to become 
bristles to each brush, it has also twenty thousand of 
vesicular, and, like the oviferous feet of the Apvs 
them ! Not only are these spines and bristles of great 
amongst the Entomostraca, appearing at certain seasons 
importance to the animal, they are also beautiful objects 
of the year to be filled with eggs. A certain number 
to look at; for some even of these “ laidly worms” shine 
of the feet are destitute of these scales, and, as stated 
with a splendour truly remarkable. The Aphrodites 
above, these feet alternate with those that are provuded 
for example, or “ Sea- mice” as they are often termed, 
with them — a peculiar structure which does not exist in 
have their bodies covered with bristles or hairs which 
any other family of Annelides, and forming the leading 
possess a brilliant metallic lustre. “ Gold, azure, purple, 
peculiarity of the present group, as w'ell as one of its 
