AMPHITRITE AURICOMA. 287 



AMPHITRITE AURICOMA. Golden-hair Amphitrite. 



The Amphitrite auricoma fabricates a very delicate 

 tube, as thin as paper, constructed exclusively of 

 grains of sand, agglutinated together in an extraordi- 

 nary manner. The thickness of the side of one of 

 these pretty tubes does not exceed a single grain ; 

 each lies in its own proper place, and the whole is 

 lined with the slightest silken coating. The sand 

 being collected at the orifice of the tube, its tenant, 

 chiefly by means of its tentacular organs, selects those 

 which are appropriate and applies them to use. This 

 is done only during the night; all the additions being 

 made around the orifice, in proportion as the animal 

 grows ; so that the shape and dimensions of the tube, 

 which is an inverted cone, result from the progressive 

 growth of the body of the worm. 



This Amphitrite is very timid. It dwells in deep 

 water, apparently lying in a horizontal position at the 

 bottom of the sea. The tubes are generally regular 

 cones, but instances have occurred of tubes slightly 

 curved, like the tusk of an elephant. 



