COE: NEMERTEANS OF WEST AND NORTHWEST COASTS. 227 



Size. — Length commonly from 10 to 20 cm., occasionally 45 cm.; 

 width 4 to 6 mm. 



Color. — Anterior portion of body rosy, pale orange inclining to 

 flesh color, or sometimes 

 more decidedly orange ; 

 head distinctly orange, but 

 usually of a ])ale tint ; l)rain 

 region a little more reddish 

 in color. General color of 

 intestinal region grayish, 

 flesh color or very pale salm- 

 on, and somewhat translu- 

 cent ; ground color much ob- 

 scured by dark green color 

 of intestinal tract, imparting 

 decided greenish tinge to 

 whole body back of eso- 

 phageal region. Green color 

 of intestinal lobes and intes- 

 tinal caecum separated on 

 dorsal surface, except far 

 posteriorly, by reddish color 

 of rhynchocoel fluid. 



Ventral surface somewhat 

 paler than dorsal, translu- 

 cent ; color much obscured by deep green of intestinal canal. Intes- 

 tinal caeca green in color, stretching forward on each side of body 

 well toward mouth. Green color very permanent, remaining con- 

 spicuous after preservation in formalin or in alcohol, and even after 

 imbedding in paraffin. 



Esophageal region almost colorless after preservation ; remaining 

 portions of body deep green from permanent color of intestinal 

 tract. 



Proboscis. — Proboscis sheath from one half to two thirds the 

 length of body, jn-ovided anteriorly with remarkably powerful mus- 

 culature. Rhynchocoel fluid deep red ; corpuscles colorless. Pro- 

 boscis fairly large, i)rovided with central stylet and either four or 

 six pouches of accessory stylets (Text-figs. 11 and 41). Basis of cen- 

 tral stylet rather slender, slightly narrower anteriorly, but of fairly 



Fig. i\.—l'arane7nertes californica. Stylet appa- 

 ratus of proboscis, showing central stylet and 

 basis and four pouches of accessory stylets. 



