wosMS. jtfoss-poz rps. spoxges, evc. 109 



the habit of freqaentlj ranning abont or saHying 

 forth has given the name of the • rauViLTs (Errau- 

 tia). The Xerei? itself is a nocturnal animal, and 

 somerimes appears in large numbers swimming 

 about near the snrfaee ot the ocean. 



All the forms thai have here been noted have 

 the body made op of a considerable nnmber of 

 rings or urniili. ranging to several hundred, which 

 on either side give origin to two rows of spines 

 or Lrisiless whence the term Chsetopoda, • bristle- 

 footed.' as applied to the membei^ of tlie group 

 coUectiTelj. The crooked tubular habirarions of 

 Sarpula dkuiilins can be seen on almost all ob- 

 jects that have drifted down to 

 about low-water level — on old 

 pots, pebbles, the under and 

 lateral faces of rooks, stirfeces 

 of shells, etc TThen disturbed 

 or mgiiTeiied. the animal with- 

 draws itself into its tube, which 

 it closes by means of a plug or 

 operculum, and thus places it- 

 self in a portion removed from 



its enemies. When extended 



it presents a beautifol appear- 

 ance, with its distended crown of brilliajiily-tinted 

 branchise — red, yellow, purple, and brown — con- 

 sisting of some tliirtvor more deli care feathery fila- 

 ments. The brown sea-wrack oecasienally brinors 

 to us. althongh less frequently than on the Xew 

 Eusrland coast, small rounded bodies, uot much 

 larger than a pin's head, which to evcrv appearance 



10 



