218 CLASS VII. 
asserted that this phenomenon has been occasionally observed in 
the earth-worm (Lumbricus terrestris Li.) It is quite certain that it 
has been seen to occur in very many marine Annelides: and hence 
these are creatures also which contribute to the illumination of the 
sea. Nereide are especially noted in this respect: Ducis observed 
the phenomenon in a Mediterranean species 4” long, Syllis fulgu- 
vans’. QUATREFAGES made the important discovery that, in certain 
minute marine Annelides (species of Syllis and Polynoé), the seat of 
the phenomenon is at the base of the feet-tubercles—in fact in the 
muscles: it was only when the muscles contracted that the light 
appeared like an electric spark’. 
Ringed-worms are found in all countries and seas: but it is im- 
possible to present a view of the geographical distribution of the 
species hitherto known, for this class is perhaps more generally 
neglected by voyagers than any other, and we are acquainted with 
few marine annelides except those from the Atlantic ocean, the 
Mediterranean, and the Red sea. Of the genus Palmyra only one 
species is known, which was found at the Mauritius. From the 
Indian sea some large and beautiful species are known, as Laodicea 
gigantea; Serpula gigantea is from the West Indies: and, in general 
the large and beautiful species are most numerous in warm regions. 
Some species appear to have a very wide geographical distribution, 
as Hesione splendida, found by SAVIGNY in the Red sea, and brought 
by Marruret from the Island of Mauritius: and Pleione carunculata, 
which, according to PALLAS and SAVIGNY occurs in the American 
seas, according to SeBa in the Indian sea, and was found by GRUBE 
in the Mediterranean at Sicily. The Hirudinea and Lumbricint 
have scarcely been investigated elsewhere than in Kurope. 
1 Ann. des Se. nat. Tom. XXIx. p. 229. The Nereis noctiluca L. is a small animal- 
cule, probably the same species as Nereis cirrigera of VIvIANI. Polynoé fulgurans, at 
most half a line long, was observed and figured by EHRENBERG, Leuchten des Mceres, 
Tab. 1. fig. 1. 
2 Ann. des Sc. nat. sec. Série, XIX. 1843, Zoologie, pp. 183—192. 
