410 Zoological Society, 



Palola viridis, n. s. 



Green, with a row of round black spots down the middle of the 

 dorsal ? surface ; one spot on the middle of each joint. 



Hab. Navigator Islands. 



I have found accompanying this worm a single specimen of a green 

 Nereis, which differs from it in being paler green above and whitish 

 beneath, shorter, more depressed, and furnished with white tentacles. 



The following is the account which Mr. Stair kindly communi- 

 cated to me with the specimen from Samoa : — 



" Palolo. — Palolo is the native name for a species of Sea Worm 

 which is found in some parts of Samoa (the Navigator Islands) in the 

 South Pacific Ocean. They come regularly in the months of October 

 and November, during portions of two days in each month, viz. the 

 day before and the day on which the moon is in her last quarter. 



" They appear in much greater numbers on the second than on 

 the first day of their rising, and are only observed for two or three 

 hours in the early part of each morning of their appearance. At the 

 first dawn of day they may be felt by the hand swimming on the 

 surface of the water ; and as the day advances their numbers increase, 

 so that by the time the sun has risen, thousands may be observed in 

 a very small space, sporting merrily during their short visit to the 

 surface of the ocean. On the second day they appear at the same 

 time and in a similar manner, but in such countless myriads that 

 the surface of the ocean is covered with them for a considerable ex- 

 tent. On each day, after sporting for an hour or two, they disap- 

 pear until the next season, and not one is ever observed during the 

 intervening time. Sometimes, when plentiful at one island in one 

 month, scarcely any are observed the next ; but they always appear 

 with great regularity at the times mentioned, and these are the only 

 times at which they are observed throughout the whole year. They 

 are found only in certain parts of the islands, generally near the 

 openings of the reefs on portions of the coast on which much fresh 

 water is found, but this is not always the case. 



" In size they may be compared to a very fine straw, and are of 

 various colours and lengths, green, brown, white and speckled, and 

 in appearance and mode of swimming resemble very small snakes. 



** They are exceedingly brittle, and if broken into many pieces, 

 each piece swims oflf as though it were an entire worm. No par- 

 ticular direction appeared to be taken by them in swimming. I ob- 

 served carefully to see whether they came from seaward or rose from 

 the reef, and feel assured they come from the latter place. 



" The natives are exceedingly fond of them, and calculate with 

 great exactness the time of their appearance, which is looked for- 

 ward to with great interest. The worms are caught in small bas- 

 kets, beautifully made, and when taken on shore are tied up in leaves 

 in small bundles, and baked. Great quantities are eaten undressed, 

 but either dressed or undressed are esteemed a great delicacy. Such 

 is the desire to eat Palolo by all classes, that immediately the fishing 

 parties reach the shore, messengers are despatched in all directions 

 with large quantities to parts of the island on which none appear. 



*' John B. Stair/* 



