6li SEA-SHORE LIFE 



four Llack eyes. When disturbed the worm turns its throat inside 

 out disphiying a pair of sharp, horny jaws. Tlie posterior segment 

 of the body has no gill-feet but bears two long feelers. 



There are three species of clam worms to be found on our coast. 

 The largest of these is Xcreis rircns which is even more abundant 

 northward and extends to the northern coasts of Europe. It becomes 



Ftg-. j6; CLAM WciRM From Life. Long Ishuid Sound. 



about one and one-half feet in length, and the body is olive l)ro\vn 

 or olive blue with a beautiful pearly iridescence. The gills, which 

 are attached to the tipper sides of the feet, are leaf-shaped, and are 

 green on the front and salmon red on tlie middle and hinder parts 

 of the body. The teeth are black. 



Xo-L'iv liinhata is also common. It may be recognized by its 

 horny, yellow colored teetli and small size, being not more than six 

 inches long. 



Xereis pehigica is more abundant on the coast of New England 

 north of Cape Cod. The body is widest in the middle, while in the 

 other species ol Nereis it is widest very near the head end. On 

 calm nights, during the summer months, these worms leave their 

 burrows, swim about near the surface, and cast their eggs out into 

 the water, where they develop into little pear-shaped larva^ which 

 swim rapidly through the water by means of waving cilia. The 

 development has been thoroughly studied by E. B. Wilson in "The 

 American .Journal of Morpliology," 1892, Vol. VI. 



Nereis is a cariuvorous worm and greedil}' devours other 

 worms, and various marine animals. It is, however, a favorite food 

 witli fishes and makes an excellent bait. It is also preyed upon hj 

 the ribbon worm. 



