[507] INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF VINEYARD SOUND, ETC. 213 
The principal localities where we dredged on the bottoms of fine sandy 
mud are as follows: 80, ¢, south of Martha’s Vineyard, in 21 fathoms; 
84, b, southwest of Gay Head, in 16 fathoms; 87, a, b, about fifteen 
miles east of Block Island, in 29 fathoms. At the last locality the tem- 
perature, on September 14, was 62° F. at the surface, and 59° at the 
bottom. 
Among the Crustacea none was more abundant on the soft, muddy 
bottoms than a small species of Ampelisca, which inhabits soft, flabby 
tubes, covered with fine mud. When taken out of the water these tubes 
are always collapsed and flat, and they were so abundant in the mud 
that it was almost impossible to wash it through the sieves, because 
they soon became completely clogged up with the tubes. When a quan- 
tity of the mud was left in a bucket of water these Crustacea would 
come out of the tubes and rise to the surface in large numbers. This 
species is generally quite pale, or nearly white. Its body is much com- 
pressed. 
Another variety, or perhaps a distinct species, found with the last, is 
pale flesh-color, with a row of bright red spots along the middle of the 
back; the antenn were specked with red; eyes bright red; epimera 
reticulated with red lines; and the legs and caudal appendages are 
more or less marked with red. 
The Unciola trrorata, (p. 340,) Ptilocheirus pinguis, and other Am- 
phipods, were associated with the preceding species. 
The Diastylis quadrispinosa (Plate III, fig. 13) was very abundant on 
the soft muddy bottoms, together with other species of Cumacea, not 
yet identified. It is pale flesh-color, with a reddish purple patch at the 
posterior part of the carapax, and two small! spots of pink. 
The Annelids were very numerous, both on the soft muddy bottoms 
and in the sandy mud. One of the most conspicuous species is the 
Aphrodita aculeata, which was common in the soft mud. This is a large, 
stout Annelid, the largest specimen obtained measuring about 3 inches 
in length, and about half as much in breadth. It is remarkable for the 
exceedingly numerous and long setie of many kinds, which cover its sides 
and back, except along a narrow dorsal space; some of these sete are 
stout, and nearly an inch long, with sharp points, and barbed near the 
end, and they curve over the back much like the quills of a poreupine, 
and are liable to inflict painful wounds, if the creatures are carelessly 
handled. These sete usually reflect bright, iridescent colors. 
Several other northern European species, found also in the Bay of 
Fundy and at Saint George’s Banks, were also met with. Among these 
were Lumbriconereis fragilis, Scolecolepis cirrata, Melinna cristata, 
Terebellides Stroémi, and several more common species. 
The Nephthys ingens (p. 431, Plate XI, figs. 59-60) is a very abundant 
species on these bottoms and grows to a large size. 
The curious Sternaspis fossor (Plate XIV, fig. 74) is quite common ; 
and the Trophonia affinis (Plate XIV, fig. 75) was dredged several times. 
