102 
MARINE FAUNA OF ST. ANDREWS. 
whose small dominions do not happen to he visited by the 
Palolo. Dr. Macdonald thinks the tendency to transverse 
fission exhibited by the annelids (since they are seldom got 
entire) may be connected with the diffusion of the ova, and 
not with the development of new forms—a conclusion the more 
likely, though by no means necessary. He states that the 
species had been supposed to exhibit an alliance with Areni- 
c-ola , but that the anatomical characters refer it to the Nereidse. 
As already mentioned, it ought rather to be classed with the 
Eunicidse. If the Palolo has similar habits to the Lysidice 
of our southern coasts (that is, dwells in fissures and crevices 
of the rocks at and near low water), it probably leaves its 
retreats for the purpose of depositing ova. Lastly, Echiurus 
is used as bait by the Belgian fishermen; and a Sipunculus is 
employed as food by the Chinese, whose varied taste ranges 
from trepangs to edible birds’ nests. 
If the uses of the majority of the annelids are restricted in 
the case of man, a very different condition holds with regard 
to marine animals. An examination of the stomachs of our 
most valuable fishes shows how acceptable and important 
a part they play in the supply of nutriment. The large 
number of species which a few hours’ fishing on a rich coast 
will produce with bait of Nereis cultrifera is strongly corro¬ 
borative ; indeed I should be inclined to place them even 
before crabs and mollusks in respect of the avidity with which 
fishes devour them. The majority of the annelids of St. 
Andrews are found in the stomachs of cod, haddock, whiting, 
flounders, and other common fishes ; and it is often puzzling 
to explain how those which dwell in tubes under stones, in 
fissures of rocks, and in other remote places have been ob¬ 
tained. To give a satisfactory account of the food furnished 
by this class to fishes would require an enumeration of every 
family, and most of the genera and species, found in this 
country; indeed I do not know a single form that would be 
rejected. It will suffice, on the present occasion, to notice a 
few of the more conspicuous at St. Andrews. The stomachs 
of cod and haddock are frequently filled with sea-mice and 
Polynoidse; and another very common form is Sigalion 
Mathildce. The Nereides (from the gigantic Alitta virens , 
