252 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 227 



with tips flared, truncate, straight or sHghtly diagonal, frayed into 

 numerous fine teeth (14-20 or so) ; (2) numerous Hmbate setae with 

 fine tips; (3) 2 stout short subacicular setae with tips bidentate, hooded. 



In addition in posterior abranchial region, parapodia with 5 or so 

 acicula with sharply tapered tips projecting from the parapodial lobe; 

 acicula and setae yellow or light amber colored. Anal end (fig. 66c) 

 with 4 short anal cirri ventrally on prominent anal ring. Proboscis 

 with a pair of black and white wing-shaped mandibles, flared ante- 

 riorl}^, articulated medially (fig. 66c^). Maxillae (fig. 66g) rather thin, 

 light brown with darker brown teeth. Maxillae i falcate hooks, with 

 pair of short suboval embedded maxillary carriers; maxillae ii with 

 8-12 teeth; left maxilla iii with 8-10 teeth; right maxilla in lacking; 

 left maxilla iv forming a ring with 4-7 teeth ; right maxilla iv forming 

 a larger ring with 8-10 teeth; maxillae v forming rudimentary plates 

 each with an inconspicuous tooth. 



Color: brilliantly iridescent, opalescent, reddish to deep brown 

 speckled with grey. Parapodia yellowish brown, speckled with light 

 red to dark brown. Males cream to yellomsh. Females grey green 

 (eggs greenish). Tube: a permanent type tube up to 3 feet or more 

 in length, the major part embedded in the substratum, the distal few 

 inches may project above the substratum. The tube is soft, white to 

 dark grey, thick, tough, parchment-like. The distal exposed part 

 widens to a lateral vent, coarsely covered with foreign material of 

 various lands, having an exceedingly ragged and untidy appearance. 

 Often a larger shell helps protect the opening. 



Biology. — Found on sheltered mud and sand flats mixed with 

 debris, shell particles, and gravel from liigh to low tide level and 

 below. They are found in sand flats associated with oysters, clams, 

 etc. They live in permanent tubes, the distal end of which is raised 

 above the substratum for several inches and covered with foreign 

 objects. They are dredged on all kinds of bottom, the dredge often 

 bringing up large quantities of the projecting ends of the tubes, the 

 occupant usuall}^ escaping. The foreign material of the tubes varies 

 with the habitat. On sandy beaches, they incorporate shell and algal 

 fragments, small stones, the edges projecting horizontally. On muddy 

 shores they incorporate vegetable fragments, including long pieces of 

 eel grass, fine sticks. Luxuriant growths of living algae and hydroids 

 may adorn many tubes. 



They protrude from the anterior end of the tube for some distance, 

 drawing back food or tube building materials. They withdraw 

 quicldy below the surface when disturbed. They are able to turn 

 readily within the tube. Worms with regenerating anterior and 

 posterior ends are commonly found, a small miniature end forming 



