COE: TERRESTRIAL NEMERTEAN OF BERMUDA. 555 
stages. The development of the principal organs of the body of 
the embryo, however, can be followed in this species as in few 
other Hoplonemertea. 
The body of the young worm proceeds directly from the ferti¬ 
lized egg without any distinct metamorphosis, although it is not 
quite certain that the ciliated covering of the young embryo is actu¬ 
ally converted into the ciliated integument of the adult worm. The 
possibility remains that the very thin and inconspicuous larval cov¬ 
ering is sloughed off. either bodily or as individual cells, during the 
Fig. C.— Transverse section of body of worm with nearly mature embryos, showing the 
large size of the 4 embryos cut in the section, and their consequent encroachment on 
the tissues of the parent. They are closely crowded in the body, the anterior end of 
embryo commonly lying toward the ventral side of body of parent; in and in'., intes¬ 
tine ; vg. prb., cavity of proboscis sheath ; n.l., lateral nerve ; va.sng. 1., lateral blood 
vessel; iteg. and iteg'., integument; gl. ce., cephalic glands of embryo, x 70. 
early stages of embryonic life, and that the integument of the adult 
takes its place. 
The developing embryos increase rapidly in size and become 
elongated until their length may be twice as great as the diameter 
of the body in which they develop. They thereby cause great dis¬ 
tension of the body walls of the parent. They encroach to so 
great an extent on the tissues of the body as to interfere greatly 
with the performance of its normal functions, reducing the lumen 
