zoology, a genus of animals belonging to the order of vermes mollusca. The body is oblong, linear, and fitted for creeping; it is furnished with lateral pencilled tentacula. There are 11 species; of which the most remarkable are the five following:

1. The Noctiluca, or noctilucious nereis, which inhabits almost every sea, and is one of the causes of the luminousness of the water. These creatures shine like glow-worms, but with a brighter splendour, so as at night to make the element appear as if on fire all around. Their bodies are so minute as to elude examination by the naked eye.

It is sometimes called nereis phosphorans; and is thus described by Griflin: The head is roundish and flat, and the mouth acuminate. The two horns or feelers are short and subulate. The eyes are prominent, and placed on each side the head. The body is composed of about 23 segments or joints, which are much less nearer the tail than at the head. These segments on both sides the animal end in a short conical apex, out of which proceeds a little bundle of hairs: from under these bundles the feet grow in the form of small flexible tubulated segments destitute of any thing like claws. It is scarcely two lines long, and is quite pellucid, and its colour is that of water green. They are found upon all kinds of marine plants; but they often leave them and are found upon the surface of the water: they are frequent at all seasons, but especially in summer before stormy weather, when they are more agitated and more luminous. Their numbers, and wonderful agility, added to their pellucid and shining quality, do not a little contribute to their illuminating the sea, for myriads of those animalcule may be contained in the portion of a small cup of sea-water. Innumerable quantities of them lodge in the cavities of the scales of fishes, and to them probably do the fishes owe their noctilucious quality. "I have observed with great attention (says Barbut), a fish just caught out of the sea, whose body was almost covered with them; and have examined them in the dark: they twist and curl themselves with amazing agility, but soon retire out of our contrived light; probably their glittering numbers dazzling the eye, and their extreme minute-ness eluding our researches. It is to be observed, that when the unctuous moisture which covers the scales of fishes is exhausted by the air, these animals are not to be seen; nor are the fishes then noctilucious, that matter being perhaps their nourishment when living, as they themselves afford food to many marine animals. They do not shine in the day-time, because the solar rays are too powerful for their light; however aggregate or immense their number." Their appearance is particularly brilliant when the wind is in the east and south-east points, and in winter-nights preceded by a warm day. If water containing these animalcules be kept warm, they retain their light two whole days after they are dead; but in cold water lose it in eight hours: motion and warmth, which increase their vivacity and strength, increase their light also.

2. Nereis lacustris, or bog nereis. The body of the size of a hog's short bristle, transparent, as it were articulated, and on either side at every articulation provided with a short fleshy foot; internally it seems to consist in a manner of oval shaped articulations, and a back formed by two lines bent backwards. It inhabits marshes abounding in clay, where it remains under ground, pushing out its other extremity by reason of its continual motion. When taken out it twirls itself up. Is frequent in Sweden.

3. Nereis cirrofa, or waving nereis. The body is red, lumbriciform, with 65 notches, furnished on both sides with two rows of bristles. At each side of the head ten filaments, at the sides of the mouth many, twice as long as the former. It dwells in Norway, on rocks at the bottom of the sea. It vomits a red liquor with which it tinges the water.

4. Nereis cerulea, or blue nereis. It inhabits the ocean; where it destroys the fryfish and teredines.

5. Nereis gigantea, or giant nereis. This is a peculiar species of those large worms that make their way into decayed piles driven down into the sea, which they bore through and feed upon, whence they are called sea worms or nereis. From head to tail they are befit on either side with small tufts terminating in three points; which are like the fine hair pencils used by painters, and composed of shining brittle of various colours. The upper part of the body in this worm is all over covered with small hairs. The rings of which it is formed are closely pressed together, and yield to the touch. The three rows of small tufts we have been describing, serve this nereis instead of feet, which it uses to go forwards as fishes do their fins.

Nereus, (fab. hist.), a marine deity, was the son of Oceanus and Thetis. He settled in the Aegean Sea, was considered as a prophet, and had the power of assuming what form he pleased. He married his sister Doris, by whom he had 50 daughters called the Nereids, who constantly attended on Neptune, and when he went abroad surrounded his chariot.

Neri (S. Philippe de), founder of the congregation of the Oratory in Italy, was born of a noble family at Florence, on the 25th of July 1515. Educated in the principles of piety and learning, he soon became became distinguished for his knowledge and virtue. At the age of 19 he went to Rome, where he improved his mind, afflicted the sick, and gave many proofs of self-denial and humility. Philippe, being raised to the priesthood at the age of 36, instituted, in 1550, a celebrated fellowship in the church of St Saviour del Campo, for the relief of poor foreigners, of pilgrims, and of convalescents, who had no place whither they could retire. This society was the cradle, if we may say so, of the congregation of the Oratory. The holy founder having gained over to God Salvati brother to the cardinal of the same name, Tarugo afterwards cardinal, the celebrated Baronius, and several others, they began to form themselves into a society in 1564. The spiritual exercises had been transferred in 1553 to the church of Saint Jerom de la Charité, which Philippe did not leave till 1574, when he went to stay at Saint John of the Florentines. Pope Gregory XIII. gave his approbation of the congregation in the following year. The father of this new warfare sent out some of his children, by whom his order was spread throughout Italy. Nor is there any reason to be surprized at its rapid success. No vow is taken in this congregation; charity is the only bond of connection. The general continues only three years in office, and his orders are not those of a tyrant or a despot. The founder died at Rome on the night between the 25th and 26th of May 1595, aged 80. He had resigned the generalship three years before in favour of Baronius, who, by his advice, was engaged in the ecclesiastical annals. The constitutions which he left for his congregation were not printed till 1612. The principal employment which he allots to the priests of his order, is to give, every day, in their oratory or church, instructions suited to the understandings of their hearers: an office truly apostolical, and which the followers of Neri discharge with success. They humble themselves, that they may exalt to God the soul of the simple. Philippe was canonised in 1622 by Gregory XV.

There was a learned man of the name of Neri (Anthony), from whom we have a curious book printed at Florence 1612, in 4to, with this title Dell'Arte narraria libri VII.; and a Dominican named Thomas Neri, who employed his pen in defence of his fellow monk, the famous Savonarole.