Curious Creatures 217 



oratory these worms invariably find their way back to 

 their nests, but it is quite certain that with the larger 

 freedom of their natural habitat, they do not often 

 return to their original homes; therefore it would seem 

 that Nereis is practically put to the necessity of con- 

 structing a new shelter at the end of every jaunt. 



As to the why and wherefore of this propensity for 

 nocturnal prowling, the reader should have no difficulty 

 In anticipating. It Is born of a desire to escape the 

 hunger of others as well as to appease her own. Under 

 the cover of darkness Nereis eludes the vigilance of 

 numerous stronger creatures always on the lookout for 

 such a toothsome tidbit as is she. Some of these, in- 

 deed, know where she lives and root her out of her 

 home. At this business, the flatfish Is particularly pro- 

 ficient; but probably the greatest enemy of the worm is 

 a creature of another kind, Limulus, the horseshoe 

 crab, an animal which, molelike in habit, leads an under- 

 ground life for the express purpose of feeding on this 

 and many other worms. 



Now Nereis herself Is a fierce and voracious 

 huntress. Although she will eat almost any kind of 

 food, plants occasionally Included, she is given to the 

 capture of living prey. For this purpose she is well 

 equipped. Her powerful jaws, hard and horny, are 

 very like a pair of serrated sickles. They are set well 

 back in the throat, and In bringing these formidable 

 weapons into play, she everts her pharynx, much as 

 one would turn Inside out the finger of a glove; the 

 seized prey is then withdrawn Into the throat and torn 

 apart, the jaws doing the work of a gizzard. Nereis, 

 In fact, is possessed of remarkable strength throughout 



