PENNAFULA (See Encycl.). A species of this animal, hitherto undescribed, was discovered by La Martiniere near Nootka. Its body is of a cartilaginous substance, and a cylindrical form; its head, armed with two little horns of the same substance, presents a spherical figure flattened at its anterior extremity. This part is covered with small papillæ, some of which are visible at D, and which serve the purpose of small mouths, by means of which this animal sucks the
blood of fishes, making its way as far as possible into the flesh: the extremity of its body, which always projects from the fish, appears like the feathers of a pen; these feather-like substances serve as excretory vessels; for on making a slight pressure on the animal, from the greater part of these cartilaginous bars issued small drops of a very limpid liquor: at the base of these bars, and beneath the body, are placed two large cartilaginous threads, of which our author could not imagine the use, for they are not universally met with in each individual. The circulation of its blood is readily observed, it forms a complete revolution about once in a minute. It is probable that this animal is only able to make its way into the bodies of different fish when it is very young; and when it has once buried itself there, having abundance of nourishment, its head increases considerably, and the two horns with which it is furnished necessarily form an obstacle to its progress, which is a remarkable instance of the foresight of Nature, since it is destined to be nourished at the expence of another. The pennatula, of which we have given from Martiniere a figure, was found by him at the depth of more than an inch and an half in the body of a diodon.