432 F. W. GAMBLE AND J. H. ASHWORTH. 



Fauvel (1899) has shown that the early post-larva of A. 

 ecaudata before the assumption of gills lives not in sand, 

 but in the interstices of algae. It is enclosed in a gelatiuous 

 tube, tlu'ough which the internal organs of the transparent 

 body can be readily perceived. Ouly later on when the gills 

 are well developed does the animal adopt the arenicolous 

 mode of life. 



Lo Bianco (1893, p. 10) states that Neapolitan specimens 

 of A. Grubii attain a length of 150 mm. The largest British 

 specimens of this species and of A. ecaudata attain a length 

 of 225 mm. 



The skin of A. Grrubii and A. ecaudata is remarkable 

 for the large amount and tenacity of the mucus which exudes 

 from it. This is generally yellowish green in colour, and 

 readily stains the hands. 



The peristaltic action of the body-wall, the waves passing 

 from behind forwards, was observed even more clearly than 

 in A. marina, but the gills of these two species do not possess 

 the same amount of contractility as those of A. marina. 



(2) Arenicola Claparedii. 



This species is found at Naples living in sand mixed (Lo 

 Bianco, 1893, p. 9; 1899, p. 484) with putrefying matter, and 

 breeds from November to May. The body is often trans- 

 parent, the tail chrome-yellow. In other specimens the colour 

 is reddish with green reflections. The examples from Crescent 

 City, California, were of a dark green, almost black colour. 

 Specimens of A. Claparedii average about 70 — 80 mm. in 

 length, but according to Lo Bianco (1899) they may attain a 

 length of 150 mm. 



(3) Arenicola cristata. 



This species is rare at Naples, and occurs chiefly among 

 (Lo Bianco, 1899, p. 484) decaying matter in the Porto mer- 

 cantile, breeding from June to August. It was found by 

 Stimpson (1856) at the entrance to Charleston Harbour living 



