6;5 SEA-SHORE LIFE 



four black eyes. When disturbed the worm turns its throat inside 

 out displaying a jjair of sharp, horny jaws. The posterior segment 

 of the bod)' has no gill-feet but bears two long feelers. 



There are three species of clam worms to be found on our coast. 

 The largest of these is Nereis virens which is even more abundant 

 northward and extends to the northern coasts of Europe. It becomes 



Fig. j6; CLAM WORM From Life. Long Island Sound. 



about one and one-half feet in length, and the body is olive brown 

 or olive blue with a beautiful pearly iridescence. The gills, which 

 are attached to the upper sides of the feet, are leaf-shaped, and are 

 green on the front and salmon red on the middle and hinder parts 

 of the body. The teeth are black. 



Nereis liinhata is also common. It may be recognized by its 

 horny, yellow colored teeth and small size, being not more than six 

 inches long. 



Nereis pelagica is more abundant on the coast of New England 

 north of Cape Cod. The body is widest in the middle, while in the 

 other species of Nereis it is widest very near the head end. On 

 calm nights, during the summer months, these worms leave their 

 bai'rows, swim about near the surface, and cast their eggs out into 

 the water, where they develop into little pear-shaped larva? which 

 swim rapidly through the water by means of waving cilia. The 

 development has been thoroughly studied by E. B. Wilson in "The 

 American Journal of jMorphology," 1892, Vol. VI. 



Nereis is a carnivorous worm and greedily devours other 

 worms, and various marine animals. It is, however, a favorite food 

 Avith fishes and makes an excellent bait. It is also preyed upon by 

 the ribbon worm. 



