82 Mr, Montagu's Description of Marine Animals 
its skin, seems to require no such artificial covering, and proba- 
bly never prepares such a case*. 
Nereis iricolor. 
This is the largest species of the genus hitherto noticed as an 
inhabitant of the British seas. Its length, when alive, was about 
three feet; nearly round, or very convex and cylindric, but taper- 
ing a little near the anterior end : upper lip somewhat protruded* 
whitish ; at the base of which are four minute black spots dis- 
posed in a transverse row : no tentacula or feelers, nor visible 
eyes : the posterior end, half an inch from the tip, suddenly de- 
creases in size, and tapers to an obtuse point : this part is of an 
orange red ; the rest of the animal is of the most beautiful prisma- 
tic colours, changeable in different points of view, but of an olive 
green hue in general appearance, becoming of a fine purplish 
red near the anterior end : the segments are about three hundred 
and ninety, with as many tubercles and fasciculi on each side. 
It was about the size of a raven's quill when extended, but, 
being immersed in fresh water, contracted to one foot in length, 
increasing in bulk to the size of a goose quill. 
This beautiful species of Vermes we found coiled under a stone 
amongst the rocks at Milton. 
Nereis Margarita. 
Body long, convex above, cylindric, tapering a little near the 
posterior end : colour changeable greenish bronze, with a slender 
* This, though somewhat similar to the Amphitrite that inhabits Sabellq penicillus, 
the Corallina Tuhularia Melitensis of Ellis, must not be confounded with it : the 
convoluted tentacula, doubly ciliated fibres, and very superior magnitude, are sufficient 
marks of distinction ; besides which, the knots or joints ia the long fibres of the tenta- 
cula of this are not to be found in the other. 
purple 
