NEREIS CULTRIFEEA. 289 



the broad tips of the swimming bristles project in a dense mass from the foot, showing 

 that they are rapidly developing. None are yet seen in the inferior setigerous process. 



The pelagic foot is fully developed behind the foregoing, and at the thirty- seventh 

 foot (Plate LXXII, fig. 1 a) the parts perhaps attain their maximum. A large fan-like 

 lamella is internal to the dorsal cirrus, which shows seven or eight papillas on its lower 

 border. A small lamella projects at its base externally. The dorsal lamella is long, 

 thin, and tongue-shaped. The superior setigerous process has a lamellar fan of a semi- 

 circular outline in front of the dense group of swimming bristles. The next lobe of the 

 foot forms a large and lanceolate lamella, with an accompanying fan-shaped flap depending 

 from its base. A great fan-like lamella extends above, below, and beyond the swimming 

 bristles of the inferior setigerous process. The ventral lobe has a marked spur at its 

 base superiorly, A considerable fan-shaped lamella occupies the ventral (internal) region 

 of the ventral cirrus, whilst a narrow lamella externally and an accessory smaller one are 

 near the base on the same side. The cirrus projects from the edge of the lamella, an 

 opaque granular band connecting it with the body. 



The condition at the fifty-seventh foot of the same epitokous male is shown in Plate 

 LXXII, fig. 1 b, and near the tip of the tail in fig. 1 c, the former presenting in proportion 

 to its size very large foliaceous lamella?-, the latter showing considerable diminution in all 

 the processes. 



c — =3aj^asG> 



»©fc=^ 



Fig. 70. — Long spear-like instrument used by the fishermen of Guernsey in digging for Nereis cultrifera. 1 



These annelids form a favourite bait at various parts of the coast, especially in the 

 south. Thus the fishermen of St. Peter Port, Guernsey, dig for them with pointed 

 instruments resembling spears (Fig. 70) and keep them in vessels amongst a little sand 

 and seaweed. They are often used for capturing whiting, which again are cut into 

 portions for the capture of conger. They form a very successful bait, and in these rich 

 waters various species of wrasse, besides bream, whiting-pout, various species of blenny, 

 and other fishes are readily captured. *■ 



The Nereis megodon of De Quatrefages (1865) has certain resemblances to this species, 

 but it is difficult, with the materials at hand, to ascertain its precise relationships. 



Ehlers (1868) gives a detailed account of the anatomy of this species as the type of 

 the family, and rectifies the synonymy. 



Claparede (1868) found this Nereid common at Naples, where it is known by the 

 fishermen as esca. He was sure it was known to Delle Chiaje, but it is difficult to make 

 certain either in regard to figures or description. Possibly it may be his Nereis Rauzani. 

 He is doubtful whether Ehlers' view that the N. margaritacea of M. Edwards is this form 

 is correct, basing his opinion on the fact that while the figures in the ' Pegne Animal ' closely 

 resemble it, these were subsequently referred by De Quatrefages to N incerta, which 

 differs in paragnathi, and whereas the Neapolitan examples had only sixty-five to seventy 

 segments those of De Quatrefages had 170. Subsequently (1870) he gave special attention 

 to the heteronereid form, showing that the change is accompanied by the absorption of the 

 1 For the use of tins block the author is indebted to Messrs. Taylor and Francis. 



94 



