Excerpt from A Monograph of the British Marine Annelids, Vol. 1: Nemertinea; And Polychaeta; Amphinomidae to Sigalionidae

So little was known in this country with respect to the Nemerteans, while their structure and zoological affinities opened up so many interesting questions, that they could scarcely be passed over in such a treatise. Accordingly they have been examined - both in the living and preserved conditions - with as much care as the circumstances of the author admitted. He hopes, moreover, that the. Publication of the skilful and laborious coloured drawings of the external configuration of these worms (which were so kindly executed by her to whom the work is dedicated) will assist in rescuing them from the comparative Obscurity in which they have hitherto been involved in this respect, both in Britain and on the Continent. He has endeavoured to render the other parts of the treatise worthy of the delicacy and beauty of these figures.

The species of the group are, on the whole, distinctly marked, so that comparatively little difficulty has been experienced in discriminating them; indeed, the chief variation in the majority is in colour, which, of course, obscures none of the essential characteristics.

Considerable additions may be expected to the list of species subsequently described (though the dredge has been used and the coast-line minutely examined at many points from the Shetland to the Channel Islands), and not a little new matter in regard to anatomy and development; but, with such a field as the whole Annelida before him, the author could not devote more time to the group. As no freshwater species has yet been found in this country, such a habitat especially should be diligently explored. The author, however, will be satisfied if he has paved the way for a more extensive and accurate study of these beautiful and interesting forms, whose life-histories and structure so amply reward investigation.

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