* THE MAKING OF A " SEA-NECKLACE." 139 



beaches ; and we can well echo the pions exclamation of the old historian 

 of Martha's Vineyard: "The Author of nature makes a wonderful and 

 copious provision for the propagation of this worm." The eggs are dis- 

 charged in a series of disk-shaped yellowish capsules, parchment-like in 

 texture, united by one edge to a stout stem of the same kind of material, 

 often a foot and a half or two feet in length. " The largest capsules, 

 about an inch in diameter, are in the middle, the size decreasing towards 

 each end. On the outer border is a small circular or oval spot, of thinner 

 material, which the young ones break through when they are ready to 

 leave the capsules, each of which, when perfect, contains twenty to thirty 

 or more eggs or young shells, according to the season." 



Dr. Elliott Coues, who has observed Fulgur carica forming its cases 

 at Fort Macon, North Carolina, states that the females bury themselves 

 a few inches below the surface of the sand on the flats that are uncovered 

 at low-water, and remain stationary during the process. The string of 

 capsules is gradually thrust upward as fast as formed, and finally pro- 

 trudes from the surface of the sand, and, when completed, lies exposed 

 on its surface. The string begins as a simple shred, two or three inches 

 long, without well-formed cases; the first cases are small and imperfect 

 in shape, but they rapidly increase in size and soon become perfect, the 

 largest being in the middle ; the series ends more abruptly than it began, 

 with a few smaller and less perfect capsules. The number of capsules 

 varies considerably, but there are usually seventy-five to one hundred or 

 more. At Fort Macon Dr. Cones observed this species spawning in May, 

 bnt at New Haven they spawn as early as March or April. It is probable 

 that the period of spawning extends over several months. 



The "necklaces" of both species present much the same appearance, 

 but a little experience enables one to distinguish them. In those laid by 

 fulgur the sides of the capsules are nearly smooth, but the edge is thick- 

 ened along most of the circumference, and crossed by numerous sharp 

 transverse ridges or partitions, dividing it into facets. The capsules be- 

 longing to sycotypus are larger and thinner, having a thin, sharp, outer 

 edge, while the sides show radiating ridges or raised lines. The small 

 shells may often be found within the capsules, and thus identify the 

 species without any chance of mistake. Their exit, when ready, is made 

 through a circular hole, about one-tenth of an inch in diameter, in the 

 periphery of the capsule. This happens early in June in Long Island 

 Sound. 



Eggs as much exposed as these are subject to numberless accidents, 

 such as being drifted ashore, ground to pieces by storms, and no doubt 



