294 NOVEMBER. 



Slight annular rings, however, do here and there vary 

 the shelly surface of the tube. 



The gill- tufts are ample ; they are two, considerably 

 infolded, consisting of about forty-five filaments each, 

 which are much longer and slenderer than those of the 

 Serpula, the last filaments of the volutions diminishing 

 rapidly. The secondary filaments, or pinnae, are very- 

 fine and very numerous, so set on the main stem that 

 the two rows form the sides of a narrow groove, facing 

 inwards. The whole is yellowish-white with eight or 

 ten bright scarlet dots set with intervals all along the 

 back or outer side of the stem. When fully protruded, 

 the base of the gills, and even a good deal of the neck, 

 lolls out of the tube. If the animal be removed, the 

 body is seen to be white, elegantly banded with scarlet, 

 and furnished with a broad translucent collar, edged with 

 scarlet : this collar ordinarily lines the mouth of the tube. 



From the length and isolation of its shelly tube this 

 is a remarkable species : the great tenuity of its fila- 

 ments, however, requires a lens to bring out their 

 beauties; but with this aid, the arrangement of the 

 rich scarlet bands and spots on the pale yellow ground 

 cannot fail to evoke admiration. 



In general, the Sabellse inhabit tubes which are not 

 calcareous or shelly ; they are composed of a soft flexible 

 substance somewhat resembling wet parchment, made 



