49 



organisation than any creatures already noticed, and amongst its 

 advantages is the possession of a distinct nervous system. Experi- 

 ments prove that, whatever power of vision the creature may have, 

 it has in a marked degree the sense of smell. His appetite, too, is 

 good. He is fond of such things as oysters, which he is able to get 

 at in less time than some of us would require for the same purpose. 

 Many worms live in the sea and build for themselves stony tubes. 

 These tubes are firmly attached to the rocks or to the shell, and 

 they afford great protection to the animals which are able to draw 

 themselves quite back, and then to close the door. Species of 

 serpula are abundant here, as elsewhere, and their breathing organs 

 which they put out are like beautiful httle scarlet fans. All the 

 marine worms do not make a hard tube to live in, as some of them 

 are content with a pliable tube to which grains of sand, small stones, 

 and pieces of shell are attached. A familiar example is seen in the 

 Terebella (specimen) which may be found sticking erect out of the 

 sand or mud. The broad fringe at the top of the tube might be 

 taken for part of the worm, but it is only a part ot the tube, but it 

 does not seem to serve any special purpose. 



Every fisherman knows the lugworm, or lobworm, which is much 

 used for bait. It has to be dug out of the sand or mud, where its 

 presence is known by the mark on the surface. The worm is several 

 inches long, and though not just the kind of thing ladies would like 

 to handle, it is well worth a careful examination. It is a dorsi- 

 branchiate which simply means that its branches or breathing 

 organs are on its back. Amongst the lower animals the gills (for 

 such they are), vary greatly in form and position, and the differ- 

 ences are of much value in classification 



The sea mouse, which many of us have admired, is really a sort 

 of short thick worm, and a dorsibranchiate. It is grandly called 

 Aphrodita after one of the nymphs. As we find it on the beach 

 left by the retreating tide, it is a dead-ahve thing, but no one can 

 help noticing its splendid tints. The body is oval, three or four 

 inches long, of a brownish grey colour, and silky. On the sides 

 are rows of stiff spines mixed with hairs which reflect all the colours 

 of the rainbow. The tints of orange and green are specially brilliant. 

 The creatures giUs are arranged in pairs along the back, being 

 covered by scalyplates. Any doubts as to the affinity of the sea 

 mouse with worms will soon be set at rest by an examination of 

 the ring or segments of the body. Should the hairs and spines 

 present a difficulty, it must be said that the common earth worm 

 is furnished with bristles, and is not the smooth-bodied animal we 

 may take it to be. "We should not Shave expected to find worms 

 bearing the names of nymphs such as Nereis, Euphrosyne, Eunice, 

 &c., but many of them are so gaily coloured as to* deserve the 



