FAM. 2. _Maldanidae_ (= _Clymenidae_).—Represented on our coasts by four fairly common species. They form sandy tubes, which are embedded in the sand with a short portion projecting. In some places they are so abundant that at low water the sand has quite a rough appearance. The prostomium is frequently truncated and depressed, and is always fused with the peristomium. A horny plate may be developed on the upper surface of the head, and the skin at the side of the prostomium is frequently raised into a more or less prominent fold. The hinder end of the body carries a funnel surrounding the anus. There are no gills or sensory processes on the body. Some of the segments towards the middle of the body may be longer than the rest. Peculiar serrated hooks of characteristic shape constitute the neuropodial "torus." The buccal region is eversible. _Nicomache lumbricalis_ Fabr. is a rosy-pink worm with white spots anteriorly; the chaetigerous ridges are red. The worm consists of twenty-six segments, and measures 2 or 3 inches. It is very narrow and readily breaks in pieces. The prostomium is laterally compressed; the anal funnel is fringed with a number of short equal processes. Under stones in the Laminarian zone. [Illustration: FIG. 178.—Anal funnel of _Nicomache lumbricalis_. (From Malmgren.)] _Axiothea catenata_ Mgrn., which may reach a length of 3 or 4 inches, resembles the above in general colour, though of a deeper tint. There are only eighteen chaetigerous segments. The head has a membranous fold of skin on each side, and the anal funnel is produced into longer and shorter processes. Both {333}these species are also found on the west side of the Atlantic. _Clymene lumbricoides_ Qfg. is about 8 inches long; pink, with a light ring round each segment; the seventh segment is larger and reddish-brown. The prostomium is laterally compressed. Anus on a cone, which rises from the bottom of a funnel, the margin of which is entire. Atlantic. [Illustration: FIG. 179.—_Axiothea catenata._ × ½. _a_, Anterior end; _b_, notopodial and _c_, neuropodial chaetae; _p_, perianal funnel. (From Malmgren.)] [Illustration: FIG. 180.—_Arenicola marina._ × 1. Dorsal view. The anterior end is seen partly from the side. _III_, The first chaetigerous segment; _IX_, the ninth chaetigerous, and first branchial segment; _XXI_, the last branchial segment; _b_, notopodial and _c_, neuropodial chaetae; _g'_, _g_, the first and last gills; _t_, the non-chaetigerous tail.]