6l 
TAB. XXX. 
NEREIS lamelligera, 
Class 6, Vermes. Order 2. Mollusca. 
Gen. Char. Body creeping, long. Lateral pe- 
duncles pencilled. Tentacula simple, rarely 
none. Eyes two or four, rarely none. 
Spec. Char. Round, attenuated at both ends. Pro- 
boscis stellated, with four fleshy points. Pe- 
duncles compressed, aboye furnished with a 
semi-lunate scale, beneath with a larger semi- 
cordate one. 
Syn. Nereis lamelligera. Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. 1 . 3120. 
Nature, ever bountiful beyond our expectations, often 
surprises us with her wonders ; and for some wise end now 
and then adopts forms different from what are familiar to 
us. It often happens that we are not able to conjecture 
her aim, though we cannot suppose any other than that 
of real excellence. In this instance she affords us a very 
distinct criterion of the species; and it often happens 
that construction may be particularly useful to assist 
our discernment; and, if for no other purpose, may be pro- 
vidential where it shows us a difference between the useful 
and the noxious. We are not yet acquainted with any uses 
among the Nereises, therefore can at present only mention 
the appendages to which we allude as a means of specific 
difference. We know of no great difference in the construc- 
tion of the other parts from the other Nereises. It it found 
two feet long an other coasts. 
