68 



SEA-SHORE LIFE 



color, and about one foot in length. They are so fragile that it is 

 extremely diihcult to dig them out unbroken. 



The Four-Jawed Worm, (Euglyeera americana, Fig. 38), is a 

 stout, active worm about one foot in length and one-quarter of an 



Fig. J9,- FRINGED WORM. Long Island Sound. 



inch wide. The side appendages are small, and function more as 

 gills than as feet. The worm resembles a reddish, iridescent earth- 

 worm with a thick body, sharply pointed at both ends. When 

 disturbed it everts its throat, shooting out a balloon-shaped pro- 

 boscis which is armed with black teeth situated at the four 

 corners of a square. It is a remarkably active worm, and is pro- 

 vided with powerful muscles so that it burrows through the sand 

 very rapidly, and is common in oar beaches between tide limits. 

 The Fringed Worm, ( Cirratuliwi rjvandw, Fig. 39), is common 

 in burrows in sandy or gravelly beaches at low water mark. The 

 body is dull brownish-yellow, tapering to a point at both ends, 

 but a large number of long, red or orange colored threads arise 



from the sides, being especially 

 j" numerous near the head. These 



i are the gills and, when expanded, 



they are often as long as the body 

 itself, and are thrust out into the 

 water above the worm, which 

 lies safely hidden within its tube- 

 like Ijurnjw. When the gills are 

 broken off they squirm about and 

 remain alive for several days. 



The Tufted Worm, ( Amplii- 

 trite ornata. Fig. 40), is found in 

 muddy beaches near low tide lev- 

 el, wliere it constructs a U-shaped 

 tube of mud particles aglutinated together with mucous. The 

 mud around the opening of the tulje is heaped up into a crater-like 



Fig. 40. TUFTED WORM. 



