92 



ANNELIDA. 



formidable enemies, and are protected by tbeir 

 armour from the formidable weajwns of the An- 

 nelida. 



The Sand-worm (Arenicola*) is exceedingly abundant 

 on sandy shores, and is much sought for and used by 

 fishermen as a bait. Its usual name on the 

 coast is the " Lug," or " Lug-worm." It is of 

 a greenish-red coloiu-, and the gill-tufts, which 

 form two rows uj^on the middle portion of its 

 body (Fig. 63), are of a beautiful crimson, 

 from the blood which circidates in them abim- 

 dantly. This worm bores rapidly in the saod 

 by means of its conical head ; and as it moves 

 on, the sides of the treacherous passage are 

 prevented from closing up by a secretion 

 from the body of the animal, which cements 

 the particles together into a kind of wall. 

 This, as the creatm-e advances, is left behind, 

 imitating, in miniature, the brickwork of a 

 tunnel. 



The Nereids (Nereis'f) have branchial tufts 

 and locomotive oars appended to every seg- 

 ment ; they are carnivorous, and their mouth 

 exhibits a very singular structm-e. The com- 

 mencement of the alimentary canal is capable 

 of being turned inside out, like the finger of 

 a glove. When thus everted, it appears like 

 a thick proboscis, armed with a formidable 

 array of sharp teeth, curved fangs, keen knives, 

 and horny plates resembling rasps or files, 

 iro. 63 — the shape of which varies in different species, 

 but always calculated to seize and retain pass- 

 ing prey. No sooner is some small animal seized by this 

 wonderful apparatus, than the whole protruded proboscis 

 is quickly inverted, carrying the hapless victim into the 

 living cavern, from which there is no escape. Among 

 the Nereids may be noted 



The Eunice % Gigantea, the largest Annehdan known ; we have 

 at this moment a specimen b-fore us, wliicli measures upwards 

 .of four feet in lengtli, and consists of 448 segments, all provided 



* Arena, the sand 

 t A nymph. 

 i A nymph. 



colo, I inhabit. 



