132 ANIMALS OF THE SEASHORE 



Potamilla oculifera Leidy 



PLATE XIII. Fig. 4 



"Another beautiful annelid, related somewhat 

 to the Serpula {Eupomotus) , but its tubes are tough 

 and flexible; they are constructed out of fine sand 

 and other foreign matters, glued firmly together 

 with the special secretions of the animal. These 

 tubes are often found attached to the under sides of 

 stones, but, passing around to the sides, open upward 

 by a free extremity; they also frequently occur in 

 sheltered nooks in the tide-pools. The worm, when 

 undisturbed, puts out a beautiful wreath of branchiae 

 somewhat resembling that of the Serpula (Eupo- 

 motus), but there is no operculum. The branchiae 

 are always beautifully colored, though the colors are 

 quite variable. In one of the commonest styles of 

 coloration, the branchiae are surrounded at base 

 with reddish brown ; above this with a ring of white ; 

 next by a band of reddish brown; then for the termi- 

 nal half the color is yellowish gray, with indistinct 

 blotches of brown; on the outer sides of the branchiae 

 stem there are one to three dark red eyes. There are 

 ten or more branchiae in each half of the wreath, and 

 'icy are longer on one side than on the other. m 



New Jersey to Bay of Fundy in shallow water. 



Eupomotus dianthus Verrill 



(Serpula dianthus Verrill; Hydroides dianthus Verrill) 



Fig. 13 



Forms white calcareous tubes on shells, rocks, 

 etc. Common Trom depth of 1 to 15 feet. Shells cast 



1. Verrill, 1874, pp. 322-3 



