part of their human keepers; particularly are they 

 tractable to the extent that they learn to respect 

 and understand, if not to endure, the presence of 

 the hand that feeds them. 



The seizure of the worm was productive of much 

 writhing and exertion in the vain effort to use its 

 powerful horny jaws. These weapons, which are 

 normally carried in the throat, resemble a pair of 

 notched hooks with the points opposed to each 

 other, and are brought into play by the extruding 

 of the pharynx. But the adept hold which my 

 Faithful Assistant retained just behind the worm's 

 head, prevented effective use of these jaws — a 

 hold retained partly from caution; more than once 

 were we witness to their possibilities in previously 

 observed members of the tribe, wherein they at- 

 tacked their prey with such violence that the vic- 

 tims were bitten in two. And caution here was 

 needful, for the body of our Nereis, rounded above 

 and nearly flat below, was fully as thick as my 

 thumb; in length it measured more than eighteen 

 inches. 



The sight of this creature is, no doubt, familiar 

 to all who have had occasion to visit the seashore, 

 and for such it needs no description; but for those 



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