The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
SAMO4'S STRANGE SEA WORM.
An Edible DelicaCy Attainable for Only n
Few Moments Each Year.

u
Few Moments Each Year.
The history OF tho curious little anneid
worm. PdloIo riridis. Of the Samoan Islands.
In its development. exhibits one of the most
wonderful phases OF life in the sen. The phe-
nomenon for which this sea worm Is noted Is
its regular appearance in myrlads on the sur
lace OF the sea. for a few minutes only on one
or two days Of the year. This swarming OF
palolos occurs in the vicinity OF the coral reefs
ard takes place at the dawn OF the day at tho
time OF the moons last QuarterinR. in the
months OF October and November
When the palolo was first noticed and sent 10
the British Museum by n South Sea Island
missionary the specimens we're found to be
strangely lacking in heads. Naturalists, in
describing them to the scientific societies
were entirely in the dark as to the character OF
the creatures head. Subsequent observa-
tons, however. resulted in the discovery OF
perfect specimens. or Of fragments with heads
attached.
appearance Of headless bodies on the surface
Of N" sea has reference TO its peculiar breed.
coral reels and when the spawning season
arrives the bodies OF the males and OF tho
In countISss numbers to the surface OF the
water. Tho sea then presents to view for sew
eral 'nrhre below the surface one wrigglng
mass OF green ana brown worms,
The natives of samoa hold the pal lo in high
esteem as Il O"'hsOmc edible. For days before
tn" certain appearance of the worm there is
great excitement among the natives and much
mnklnK ready OF canoes for the coming catch
When the proper time arrives. the whole popu-
!atlon. man. woman and child. makes its way
ia canoes, by I'll" faint light of the waning
moon, 20 the locality whore the palolo occurs.
Here the natives wait for the dawn Of tho dav,
a. Wh!ch I'm" me naIolo7 rise to the surface.
but only Tor few minutes before and after
sunrise. Tk" eager natives gather them quick
~ ana IN immense numbers, return to the
shore to feast and 10 despatch presents of palO-
los to distant relatives whose regions arc not
favored 10y the visit Of this tidhit
Sometimes there IL II second swarm OF palo-
los a. the same hour on the following day.
Th" palo.o j. from one inch to eighteen
inches long. ana about Onn-righth to one
quarter Of an inch in thickness. Tho head Is
slightly narrower than the body, I he body il
irnE"d with arrow othairs on each side. the hairs
gathered in clusters, two clusters, one on each
side. to each segment Of the body. The pos
tcniaclns, which are IN two pairs, one pair very
much longer than the other. The worm has
been described in tn" Proceedings Of the 20
MiIg"al Society OF London, 10y tho Rev. S, J.
Nlltm"e. aS moving rapidly with consider
nlI" elegance. IN A spiral manner like n screw"
twtuiug plant
remarkable circumstance in connection
with the appearance Of the pdlolO is the re st.
lcNal"N, OF the land crabs ,lu.ti@g their quar-
t@rH from IA" higher lands and the interior to
the s"aShOra several days before the arrival Of
TO feed Oh this sea worm. The noteworthy
phcuom"nQn in this regular advent Of the palolo
l. the fact that II keeps both lunar and solar
u'n"' coming in the months Of October and
NpF"m Ter, and always at the time OF the moons
last quarter during these months.