540 THE NIGHT-SPINNING NEREIS. 



This slug is of a greyish white colour, with a yel- 

 lowish shield, and is generally about three fourths 

 of an inch in length. It is supposed not to be very 

 uncQmjnon in woods and other shady places. 



THE NEREIS TRIBE. 



THE animals of this tribe are long and slender. 

 Their feet are very numerous, and arranged on each 

 side of the body. They have, in general, two or 

 four eyes, but some of the species have none. 

 Their feelers are simple, and placed above the 

 mouth. 



THE NIGHT-SHINING NEREIS*. 



The body of this little creature is oblong, linear, 

 and so minute as to elude examination by the naked 

 eve. It inhabits every sea, and is one of the causes 

 of the luminous shining of the water in the night, 

 which is sometimes so great as to make that ele- 

 ment appear as if on fire. The body, composed of 

 about twenty-three segments or joints, is altogether 

 scarcely two lines long, quite pellucid, and its co- 

 lour that of, water green. 



These animals are found on all kinds of marine 

 plants j but they often leave them, and swim on the 

 surface of the water. They are frequent at all sca- 







* Nereis noctiluca. Linn. 



