61 



TAB. XXX. 



NEREIS lamelligera, 



Class 6. Vermes. Order 2. Mollusca, 



Gen. Char. Body creeping, long. Lateral pe- 

 duncles pencilled. Tentacida simple, rarely 

 none. Eyes two or four, rarely none. 



Spec. Char. Round, attenuated at both ends. Pro- 

 boscis stellated, with four lieshy points. Pe- 

 duncles compressed, above furnished with a 

 semi-lunate scale, beneath with a larger semi- 

 cordate one. 



Syn. Nereis lamelligera. Gmel. Sysi. Nat. v. 1. 3120. 



Nature, ever bountiful beyond our expectations, often 

 surprises us with her wonders ; and for some wise end now 

 and then adopts forms different from what are familiar to 

 u3. It often happens that we are not able to conjecture 

 her aim, though we cannot suppose any other than that 

 of real excellence, "in this instance she affords us a very 

 distinct criterion of the species ; and it often happens 

 that construction may be particularly useful to assist 

 our discernment; and, if for no other purpose, may be pro- 

 vidential where it shows us a difference between the useful 

 and the noxious. We are not yet acquainted with any uses 

 among the Nereises, therefore can at present only mention 

 the appendages to v\;hlch we allude as a means of specific 

 difference. We know of no great difference in the construc- 

 tion of the other parts from the other Nereises. It it found 

 two feet long on other coasts. 



