192 THE FAUNA OF THE SALCOMBE ESTUARY. 



habiting a membranous tube, formed of hardened mucus, with a few 

 particles of sand and mud attached, as described by Saint-Joseph 

 {Ann. ScL Nat. S. VII. xx. p. 216). When the worms of this species 

 were removed from their tubes and placed upon clean sand in a vessel 

 of sea-water, they remained on the surface of the sand for some time, 

 moving about, but making little attempt to burrow. After several 

 hours, however, they were found buried in the sand, inclosed in a 

 new tube made of secreted mucus, which was doubtless produced 

 by the numerous glands which are found on the parapodia and on 

 the sides of the body. The great development of these glands is one 

 of the characteristic features of the species. 



Nereis (Perinereis) cultkifera, Gruhe. Of the five species of Nereis 

 found on the shore in the Salcombe estuary, by far the most common 

 is Nereis cultrifcra. It is found practically everywhere, from Garston 

 Point to the mouth of the harbour, excepting on the very fine mud 

 in the upper parts of the estuary. It is most common, however, 

 where the soil is composed of gravel mixed with more or less sand 

 and mud. In this respect its distribution resembles that of N. irrorata, 

 though on the whole it is a much more ubiquitous species than the 

 latter. Young specimens were numerous in dredge material. 



Nereis (Eunereis) longissima, Johnston. (See Saint-Joseph, Ann. 

 Sci. Nat. S. VIII. vol. v. 1898.) This is a well-marked species with 

 a restricted distribution, which is well shown by the localities in which 

 it is found in the Salcombe estuary. It is most at home in fine 

 muddy sand, the soil most suitable for it being generally found around 

 the margins of the large banks of the finest sticky mud, which occupy 

 considerable areas in the upper parts of the estuary. In these mud- 

 banks themselves it does not appear to flourish. It was found most 

 abundantly in the mud to the south of Garston Point and on the 

 southern side of the bay immediately below Halwell Point (under 

 the limekiln). It was not uncommon in soil of the proper kind 

 on the Salstone. Near the mouth of Salcombe Harbour occasional 

 specimens only were met with. Nereis longissima burrows very rapidly 

 in fine sand, and I agree with Saint- Joseph in saying that it does 

 not appear to form a tube like N. irrorata. When placed upon fine 

 sand in a vessel of clean sea-water it generally commences to burrow 

 immediately, and rapidly disappears beneath the surface of the sand. 

 The proboscis seems to play an important part in the burrowing 

 process, being constantly protruded and withdrawn as the head becomes 

 buried. 



It is interesting to note that Nereis longissima was obtained by the 

 Forcujnne off the west of Ireland at a depth of 1,366 fathoms, on 

 a bottom of fine clayey mud (Ehlers, Beitrdgc zur Kcnntniss der Ver- 



