VERMES THE WORMS 83 



There are a great number of Nemerteans on our shores, 

 and while the majority are rather inconspicuous little 

 red or yellow fleshy worms, abundant on all sides yet 

 there are some, as I have said, very striking members in 

 this division. To it belongs the great Nemertes striata. 

 This is the form described by Canon Kingsley as " the 

 living fishing line." Specimens ranging from six to ten 

 feet long are common in many localities, and I have known 

 of one over twenty feet in length. In Professor Mclntosh's 

 " Monograph of the Worms," published by the Ray Society, 

 there is a life-sized illustration of one in its natural colours, 

 which is over thirty feet in length, but the average size 

 is about seven feet. In specimens of the latter size the 

 thickness is about that of an ordinary penholder. In the 

 specimen figured in the monograph above mentioned, the 

 diameter is about five-eighths of an inch. Its colour is 

 olive-brown, with white lines running longitudinally from 

 end to end. 



A beautiful Nemertean is the Valencia splendida of 

 Quatrefages. This one grows to a length of about three 

 feet. It is of oval section, about three-eighths of an inch 

 wide, and its colour is a brilliant vermilion. It is fre- 

 quently found in digging among the roots of Zostera, near 

 low-tide limit. 



Mekelia annulata is another beautiful member of the 

 class, sometimes called the "Cross-bearing worm." 



It is rather smaller than the last, of deep crimson or 

 sometimes claret colour. It has a white or cream-coloured 

 line running all along the centre of the back, crossed by 

 others at close intervals. 



It is not common, but may be found in the same situations 

 as the last. It comes to light, however, more frequently, 

 being sometimes seen twining among sea-weeds, like a boa- 

 constrictor in a tree. 



It is exceedingly difficult to preserve sound specimens 



