J. BADCOCK —ON 1TELICEETA EIXGEXS. 
37 
ferences suggest themselves. Let us look again at the trochal disc. 
Two of the lobes are larger than the others, and, when examined 
very closely, two ruby-like points, very fine and brilliant, are seen 
in connection with them. It is very generally said in books that 
although the Melicertans have eyes when young, they lose them on 
attaining to maturity. How this is a mistake which I have very 
often demonstrated by showing the eyes in adult specimens. 
When the Melicertce are very young and in their free condition, 
the eyes are more of the nature of pigment-spots, but subsequently, 
though less observable, they are not lost, but they become finer and 
are then liable to be hidden in the folds of the trochal crown in 
which they seem to be imbedded and to be connected with a net¬ 
work of nerves, with which this trochal crown appears to be per¬ 
meated. They are best seen in specimens which have not attained 
full growth, being in that stage when about a quarter or half of 
the tower is built. The creatures are then in their full vigour, 
and if in comparatively clear or clean water, display both the case 
and its inhabitant to the greatest advantage. 
The eyes of the Melicertce are indicative of a nervous system. 
Then there are the two antennse-like organs, each tipped with its 
pencil of setae, which are projected from the crown before the full 
expansion of the working, feeding, and gathering organs. The 
precise use or function of these apparently tactile organs is not 
known, but they have all the characteristics of nervous sensation, 
and in view of their use, under circumstances in which danger 
may have been apprehended, we are justified in adducing them in 
support of the theory of a nervous system. 
I will now call your attention to another instance of what seems 
like intelligence, and to which I have alluded when speaking 
of the several currents. 
The animal living in a case or tower, with only one opening, and 
that at the top, a peculiar arrangement of the intestinal canal 
becomes necessary, whereby the effete matter forming the residuum 
of food, together with the waste or worn-out products of the body, 
may be discharged. It is therefore bent in upon itself, forming at 
its extremity a long cloaca, discharging itself near the mouth. 
There is no action of this wonderful creature which has so 
struck me as displaying intelligence as the means it adopts in order 
to get rid of this excrementitious matter. We can very well 
understand its action in an open pond—its natural habitat—where 
there is plenty of water, and where the ejected matter may be 
easily carried away, but under microscopic observation, confined in 
a close cell, with only a drop or two of water, the difficulty 
is immense; for you must consider that the obj ect is to get rid of 
offensive material, thrust out as it is into a small quantity of 
water which is kept in a perpetual whirl by the action of the 
feeding and gathering organs, by which every particle is drawn 
towards them. This effete matter is thrust out with great velocity ; 
but it cannot go far in so limited a vessel, and it is again and again 
caught up in the whirling current and carried towards the mouth, 
