"... I spent several hours in exploring Mew Island, a little coral islet near the entrance of the This island is densely wooded to the water's edge, and is partly encircled by a barrier-reef. As I stepped from the boat upon the reef, I was struck at once with the extreme beauty of a species of , a sea-worm living in holes of the great solid s which compose the reef. The gills of these lovely creatures are in the form of spiral ribbons of a brilliant orange-green and blue; these resplendent gaudy plumes are alternately extruded and withdrawn, and seen through the pellucid water, present a very singular and beautiful appearance"