that have been scarified and cut strangely to take out the worm." He was unfortunate enough to have one of these creatures in his own ancle. "I was (he says) in great torment before it came out: my leg and ancle swelled, and looked very red and angry, and I kept a plaister to bring it to a head. At last, drawing off my plaister, out came about three inches of the worm, and my pain abated presently. Till that time I was ignorant of my malady, and the gentlewoman at whose house I was, took it for a nerve; but I knew well enough what it was, and presently rolled it up on a small stick. After that I opened the place every morning and evening, and strained the worm out gently, about two inches at a time, not without some pain, till at length I had got out about two feet." He afterwards had it entirely destroyed by one of the negroes, who applied to it a kind of rough powder, not unlike tobacco-leaves dried and crumbled very small.

M, D'Obsonville received in his right leg the germ of one of these worms. He observed that its head was of a chesnut-colour, and that to the naked eye it appeared to terminate in a small black point. On pressing it a little with a pin, and examining it with a common magnifying glass, he fancied he perceived something like a little trunk or tongue, capable of being pushed out or contracted. The body was not thicker than a strong thread; but, when the animal was extracted, it was found to be of the length of two or three ells. It appeared to be formed of a series of small rings, united to each other by an exceedingly fine membrane, and a single intestine extended through the body. This worm was extracted in the usual way; and the reason he gives for the injury done by breaking these animals is, that they are full of a whitish acrimonious fluid, which immediately excites inflammation, and not unfrequently produces an abscess or gangrene. A worm in his leg was twice broken, and twice occasioned an abscess. At last, at his own request, the part affected was rubbed with a preparation of mercury:

and, in eight or ten days, the effect surpassed his hopes; for not only the body of the insect came away in suppuration, but the wound, which had been more than three inches long, and considerably inflamed, was in this time almost entirely healed.

THE FURY TRIBE.

Of this tribe only one species has hitherto been discovered. The body is linear, and of equal thickness throughout. It has on each side a single row of closepressed reflected prickles.

In Finland, Bothnia, and the northern provinces of Sweden, says Linnæus, the people were often seized with an acute pain, confined to a mere point, in the face, or other exposed part of the body, which afterwards increased to a most excruciating degree, and sometimes, even within a few hours after its commencement, proved fatal. This disorder was more particularly observed in Finland, especially about marshy places, and always in the autumn. At length it was discovered, that the pain instantly succeeded something which dropped out of the air, and almost in a moment penetrated and buried itself in the flesh. On more accurate examination, the Fury was detected as the cause. This little worm creeps up the stalks of sedge-grass and shrubs in the marshes, whence it is often carried off by the wind; and, if the naked parts of the skin of any person happen to be directly in its course, it immediately adheres and buries itself within. The first sensation is said to be like that arising from the prick of a needle. This is

* DESCRIPTION. This worm is about half an inch in length, and of a carnation colour, often black at the apex. SYNONYMS. Furia infernalis. Linn.-La Furie.

Bosc.

Cuvier.

succeeded by a violent itching of the part; soon afterwards by acute pain, a red spot, and gangrene, and at last by inflammatory fever, accompanied with swoonings. In the course of two days at the furthest, death follows, unless the worm be immediately extracted; which is very difficult to be done. The Finlanders, however, say, that a poultice of curds or cheese, will allay the pain, and entice the animal out. Perhaps the most effectual method is, carefully to dissect between the muscles where it had entered, and thus to extract it with the knife.

Linnæus, as he was once collecting insects, was stung by a Fury in so dreadful a manner, that for a little while there was great doubt whether he would recover.

OF THE GORDIUS, OR HAIR-WORM TRIBE.

These animals are inhabitants chiefly of stagnant waters. In their organization and structure they are extremely simple. Their bodies are round, thread-shaped, equal in thickness throughout, and smooth; and their interior consists of a canal, which extends from one extremity of the body to the other.

THE COMMON HAIR-WORM *.

The popular name of this worm originated in the notion that it was produced from the hair of horses and other animals; a notion that is even yet prevalent among the common people. Its Linnean name of Gordius originated in the habit that it has of twisting itself

DESCRIPTION. This worm is about the thickness of a horse's hair, and, when full grown, is ten or twelve inches in length. Its skin is somewhat glossy, and of a pale, yellowish white, except the head and tail, which are black.

SYNONYMS. Gordius aquaticus. Linnæus.-Water Hairworm. Barbut.-Dragoneau aquatique. Bosc.-Le Dragoneau des Ruisseaux. Cuvier.

into such peculiar contortions, as to resemble a compli cated Gordian knot. In this state it often continues for a considerable time, and then, slowly disengaging itself, extends its body to the full length.

It is common in our fresh waters, and particularly in such where the bottom is composed of soft clay, through which it is able to pass with great facility.

Sometimes it moves in the water with a tolerably quick undulating motion, like that of a leech; and at other times its motions are the most slow and languid imaginable. When the water which it inhabited happens to be dried up, it soon loses every appearance of life; the slender body shrivels, and it may be kept in this state for a great length of time. But whenever it is put into water its body soon re-assumes its former appearance; in less than half an hour it begins to move, and in a few minutes more, it is as brisk and active as ever. The Abbé Fontana kept a Hair-worm in a drawer for three years, at the expiration of which time it was perfectly dry and hard, and exhibited no signs of life; but, on putting it into water, it soon recovered its former vigour. When kept in a vessel of water, this worm will sometimes appear motionless, and as if dead, for several hours, and afterward will resume its former vigour, and seem as healthy as before.

It is stated, that the bite of the Hair-worm has been known to produce the complaint called a whitlow. This is mentioned by Linnæus as a popular opinion it Sweden. The Hair-worm is sometimes found in the earth as well as in water; and particularly in gardens of a clayey soil, after rain.

THE SEA LONG-WORM*.

Such is the extreme length of these very extraordinary worms, that it is almost impossible to fix any

*DESCRIPTION. The thickness of this worm is from that of a quill, nearly, to that of the little finger. It is generally of

bounds to it. The fishermen of the Devonshire coast, after telling an enquirer respecting them, that they are many fathoms long, and that, although they are continually hauled up from the deep, almost like a rope, their extremity is never found, are satisfied that the enquirer knows enough of the matter; and, in many cases, neither money nor persuasion will induce them to bring specimens of the worms on shore.

The

Some of the most intelligent of the fishermen, however, assert, that they are upwards of thirty yards in length; but Colonel Montagu is of opinion, that as many feet must be the utmost. None of the specimens which he saw appeared to exceed twenty feet. largest of these worms are taken by dredging. They are also sometimes found under the stones at low water, but always coiled up or contorted in a most complicated manner.

The expansion and contraction of the Long-worms are very surprising. One of them, supposed to be nearly eight feet in length, was put alive into spirits, and it instantly contracted to about twelve inches, at the same time increasing to double its preceding bulk. It is very difficult to preserve them perfect without contraction. If suffered to die in their natural element, one part will decay and become putrid, whilst the other part remains entire and capable of motion; and the addition of any thing offensive instantly produces contraction.

They are found on the coasts of Devon and Cornwall; and are also frequently dredged up by the fishermen in the Frith of Forth, in Scotland.

a dusky brown colour, with a tinge of green. Five streaks of a paler colour extend through its whole length.

SYNONYMS. Gordius marinus. Montagu. Linn. Tran. Lineus longissimus. Black Line Worm. Sowerby's Brit. Misc. p. 15. Pl. 8.