204 THE WORLD OF THE SEA. 
scimitar of the Turk, have the concave edge in cutting order; they 
have their short swords, and long swords; their dirks, and their 
bayonets; and, more wonderful and more deadly still, they have 
harpoons, and fish-hooks, and fine sharp lancets, slightly affixed 
to the end of slender shafts. These the creature leaves in the 
body of its enemy, to his great and lasting discomfort. If, how- 
ever, the brave assailant receiving, but not heeding, the wounds 
thus inflicted upon him, comes to close quarters with the annelid, 
he finds a new set of weapons ready to impale him. Out of every 
foot comes a sharp spear, to which is attached a distinctive muscle ; 
and, with an astonishing vigour, these the marine worm thrusts 
into the body of its adventurous enemy. 
Foremost among the dorsibranchiata are the Werezde, or the sea 
centipedes. They are found upon our coast, hiding themselves in 
the crevices of the rocks. The larger members of the group are 
inhabitants of warmer latitudes. Their tentacles are arranged in 
pairs on each side of the head. Their tubercles and tufts of 
bristles are impelled by a simultaneous motion; and as the animal 
thus glides through the water, the ease and grace of its motion can 
hardly be conceived—a long, beautiful boat sweeping along, with 
a hundred perfect oarsmen. The dorsibranchial nereids are fre- 
quently brilliantly coloured. 
The Pearly Nephthys has a body of bright orange; a line of 
a darker hue passes down the middle of the back. The jaws are 
black and the eyes blue; while a resplendence is imparted to the 
little creature by the lustre of its skin. 
A kindred species—the Eunice gigantea—may be considered 
the king of the nereids. This princely annelid is an inhabitant of 
the waters around the Antilles. It isa yard and a half long, and 
its body is composed of 450 rings. The bright tropical light plays 
upon it with iridescent splendour. The head is richly painted, and 
out of it rises a rose-coloured horn, which bears on its extremity a 
pair of prehensile forceps. The respiratory organs are situated on 
its sides, and, when distended with blood, appear as vermilion 
patches. It has 1,700 organs of locomotion; they all move 
simultaneously, and with great rapidity; indeed, so rapidly that 
frequently the eye is not able to distinguish them. As this splendid 
