82 Mr. Montagu's Description of Marine Animals 



its skin, seems to require no such artificial covering, and proba- 

 bly never prepares such a case*. 



n^NeREIS IRICOLOK. 



This is the largest species of the genus hithertcwioticed as an 

 inhabitant of the British seas. Its length, when jtfive, was about 

 three feet; nearly round, or very convex and cylindjric, but taper- 

 ing a little near the anterior end : upper lip somewhat protruded, 

 whitish: at the base of which are four minute' black spots dis- 

 posed in a transverse row : no tentacula or feelers, nor visible 

 eyes u the posterior end, half an inch from the tip, suddenly de- 

 creases in size, and tapers to an obtuse point : this part is of an 

 orange red ; the rest of the animal is of the most beautiful prisma- 

 tic colours, changeable in different points of view, but of an olive 

 green hue in general appearance, becoming of a fine purplish 

 red near the anterior end : the segments are about three hundred 

 and ninety, with as many tubercles and fasciculi on each side. 



It was about the size of a raven's quill when extended, but, 

 being immersed in fresh water, contracted to one foot in length, 

 increasing in bulk to the size of a goose quill. 



This beautiful species of Vermes we found coiled under a stone 

 amongst the rocks at Milton. 



-Nereis Margarita. 



Body long, convex above, cylindric, tapering a little near the 

 posterior end : colour changeable greenish bronze, with a slender 



* This, though somewhat similar to the Amphitrite that inhabits Salella penieillus, 

 £thc Corallina Tulularia Melitensis of Ellis, must not be confounded with it : the 

 convoluted tentacula, doubly ciliated fibres, and very superior magnitude, are sufficient 

 marks of distinction ; besides which, the knots or joints in the long fibres of the tenta- 

 cula of this are not to be found in the other. 



purple 



A 



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