26 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [320] 
rocks, and on muddy shores, is the Amphitrite ornata, (Plate XVI, fig. 
82.) This worm constructs rather firm tubes out of the consolidated 
mud and sand in which it resides, casting cylinders of mud out of the 
orifice. It grows to be twelve to fifteen inches in length. Its color is 
flesh-color, reddish, and orange-brown to dark brown, and it has 
three pairs of large plumose or arborescent gills, which are blood- 
red. The tentacles are flesh-colored, very numerous, and capable 
of great extension, even to the length of eight or ten inches, and are kept 
in constant motion in gathering up the materials with which it con- 
structs its tube. Two species of worms, remarkable for their soft bodies 
filled with bright red blood, which is not contained in special blood- 
vessels, are also found under stones where there is mud in which they 
can burrow. The smaller of these is Polycirrus eximius, (Plate XVI, fig. 
85.) Its tentacles are very numerous, and are extended in every direc- 
tion by forcing the blood into them, which can be seen flowing along iu 
the form of irregular drops, distending the tubular tentacles as it passes 
along. The second species is a much larger aud undescribed species, 
remarkable for its very elongated body and for haviug very singular 
branching gills on the sides along the middle region; the first and last 
of these gills are simple or merely forked, but those in the middle are 
divided into numerous branches; and in either vase each branch is 
tipped by a cluster of setz. In allusion to this remarkable feature I 
have called it Cheetobranchus sanguineus. Its tentacles are like those of 
the last species, but longer and more numerous; in full-grown specimens 
they can be extended twelve to fifteen inches or more. Its color is blood- 
red anteriorly, but more or less yellowish at the slender posterior part. 
It is very fragile and it is seldom that a large specimen cau be ob- 
tained entire. It grows to be twelve to fifteen inches long. This, like 
the three species last mentioned, feeds upon the minute organisms 
contained in the mud, which it swallows in large quantities. Two 
species of Lumbriconereis are, also, frequently found burrowing in the 
mud and sand beneath stones, but they belong more properly to the - 
muddy shores. They are long, slender, reddish, and brilliantly irides- 
cent worms, readily distinguished by having a smooth, blunt-conical 
head, without tentacles. They are carnivorous and have complicated 
jaws. The head and anterior part of the body of the larger species (D. 
opalina V.) is represented in Plate XIII, figs. 69, 70. The other (L.tenwis 
V.) is very slender, thread-like, nearly a foot long, and has no eyes. 
There are several kinds of highly organized aunelids which may be 
found adhering to the under side of stones or concealing themselves in 
crevices. Among these are three species, which have the back covered 
with two rows of large scales. One of these, having twelve pairs of 
nearly smooth scales, is the Lepidonotus sublevis V., (Plate X, fig. 42) 
the color is variable, but usually brown or grayish, with darker specks, 
thus imitating the color of the stones. Another more common species 
is the Lepidonotus squamatus, (Plate X, figs. 40, 41,) which also has 
