WORMS 305 _ 



engulfed, we marvel that so vast a sac can be packed away 

 in so slender a case. 



In this instance the armature of the proboscis is feeble; 

 but we have species which are very elaborately armed. 

 There is a minute species of Lombrinereis, which com- 

 monly appears in our aquaria after they have been some 

 time established, and breeds in vast numbers on the floe- 

 cose matter that clogs the bottom and sides. In this tiny 

 Worm there is a formidable array of jaws, resembling 

 black hooks, which we may discern through their pellucid 

 tissues, snapping and cutting viciously like so many pairs 

 of hooked scissors. Though I have often had this little 

 species in my tanks in copious abundance, I regret to say 

 I cannot find any at this moment for our examination, and 

 shall therefore content myself with translating for you 

 MM. Audouin and Milne-Edwards' description of the jaws 

 as they appear in a closely -allied form, but of far greater 

 dimensions, Eunice. 



"The proboscis is not very protrusile; when it is with- 

 drawn its external orifice is longitudinal, and the jaws are 

 fixed on each side, all facing the medial line. When it is 

 projected, however, the two margins of the longitudinal 

 cleft become transverse in separating, and the jaws follow 

 the same movement, and diverge in the ratio of their for- 

 wardness. A kind of lower lip which is affixed to the 

 under side of the proboscis is composed of two horny 

 blades united toward their front extremity, and prolonged 

 behind into points. The jaws are to the number of seven; 

 three on the right and four on the left; the two upper ones 

 are perfectly alike, and mutually opposed; they are large, 

 narrow, pointed, recurved hook-wise at the tip, and jointed 

 at their hinder ends on a double horny stem shorter than 



