I20 Glimpses of Marine Life on the Forth. [Sess. 



a breakwater by this masonic brotherhood. Sabellaria might 

 almost be described as a reef-building annelid. The tubes of 

 Serpula and Spirorhis are calcareous : the former occur on 

 stones, the discs of the latter on the fronds of the tangle. 



A scale-worm, Polynoe, may readily be found under stones 

 between the tide-marks : it is a near ally of the sea-mouse 

 (Aphrodite), and has on its back a double row of alternating 

 scales or elytra, reminding one of Eoman shields in the form- 

 ation known as a tortoise. Under stones, too, we often notice 

 long red marks on the mud, like streaks of blood. These are 

 the gills and tentacular filaments of Cirratulus. On the 

 slightest alarm they are rapidly drawn in, and disappear into 

 the burrow. Placed in water, this marine worm, with its 

 long coils of ruddy tresses, is a singularly graceful object. 

 Trophonia is another common annelid : it has at its anterior 

 end a tuft of bristles, two long tentacles, and eight green 

 gills, which impart to it a grotesque appearance irresistibly 

 reminding one of a scarecrow. This worm might very well 

 have served as the model for the famous sea-serpent of the 

 Hamburg Museum — an imposture detected and exposed by Lin- 

 naeus, who had to flee the town in consequence. If we watch 

 Trophonia a short time we are surprised to see it swallow 

 down its entire head-gear, — gills, tentacles, and bristles dis- 

 appear into the all-devouring maw. Its appearance is now 

 that of a very commonplace worm, but when its gorge rises 

 once more, Trophonia will again appear in all its formidable 

 array. 



A deposit of mud, which is extending in some parts of the 

 Forth, threatens with destruction many forms of marine life, 

 though not a few annelids seem quite at home in the silted 

 sediment. A numerous family, annelids are withal wide- 

 awake. The proverb about a worm turning if you tramp 

 on it requires to be amended : the worm does not give you 

 the chance of tramping on him, — he believes that discretion 

 is the better part of valour, and disappears into his burrow on 

 the first approach of danger. 



