2 10 Dwellers of the Sea and Shore 



about an Inch. It is flat, extremely soft, and of a pink 

 or flesh color, and in general appearance not greatly 

 unlike the article from which it receives its popular 

 name. Despite its great length, it is capable of con- 

 tracting to less than a yard; but in doing so, it loses its 

 flat shape and becomes nearly cylindrical. Although it 

 is a most delicate creature, it can burrow with great 

 rapidity when escaping from its pursuer. It does this 

 with the help of its long proboscis, an organ that is 

 also used in determining the location and effecting the 

 capture of its prey. The proboscis, by the way, has no 

 connection with the alimentary tract; it is an inde- 

 pendent structure and is extruded through an opening 

 on the top of the body near the forward end. The 

 mouth is on the under side, and is capable of engulfing 

 creatures of considerable size. In accomplishing this, 

 part of the esophagus is thrust out to envelop the ob- 

 ject, and it is then withdrawn. 



The ribbon worm lives mostly on worms w^hich it 

 finds buried in the sand or mud; although I have fre- 

 quently encountered it in the nighttime swimming 

 around in the pool, obviously on a predatory hunt. As 

 it extends itself wnth wavelike undulations over the 

 stony bottom, its proboscis constantly darts here and 

 there among the crevices in search of a victim. Often 

 this \\\\\ prove to be a member of its own species. Like 

 most nemerteans it is a cannibal, and w^ill readily de- 

 vour those of its kind which are not too large to be 

 overcome. Its voracity knows no bounds. Nor is the 

 creature exactly discriminating in its quality of food. 

 It will eat worms, such as nereids, which grow nu- 

 merous spines or bristles. In that event, these indiges- 



