84 NATURAL HISTORY OF OUR SHORES 



of Valencia, as even on capture it constricts itself and 

 breaks into chunks an inch or two in length. It may, 

 however, be done when proper precautions are taken. 



The greater number of marine worms belong to the 

 division Annelida, the body being segmented or ringed 

 (Annulose). They are by most authorities divided into 

 Errantia, those that travel about freely either under 

 or above the ground, and Sedentaria, those that build 

 tubes and remain permanently at home (Tubiculous 

 annelids), but the distinction is not a very true one, 

 for many of the so-called " Errantia " build tubes ; for 

 instance, one with all the characteristics of a roving species, 

 and that can progress rapidly, either crawling or swimming 

 (Eunice Harassii), builds a tube and lives in it, until dis- 

 turbed. 



The Great Nemertean (Borlaisia or Nemertes striata), 

 mentioned above, may live either coiled up, snakelike, 

 under a stone, twine among weeds and stones, or build a 

 tube for a dwelling. I had one a short time back in a tube 

 so hard with cemented-together stone and gravel that a 

 hammer had to be employed to crack the portions that 

 still encircled the worm after it had been put in spirit. 



The majority of the annelids have eyes and antennae, 

 and have appendages along the sides that are of composite 

 structure one part forming feet, a portion turned up 

 dorsally serving as respiratory organs. These side appen- 

 dages are set with bunches, often fanlike and resplendent, 

 of bristles. These bristles are of varied form : some in the 

 shape of spears and lances, some barbed like arrows, some 

 straight, and some curved. 



The worms bearing these are termed Chcetopoda (bristle - 

 footed). Some are minute, almost microscopic. Others 

 may be a couple of feet in length, and of proportionate 

 stoutness. 



Some (in the Sedentaria) have bunches of plumes at the 



