ADDENDA AND COERIGENDA TO THE 

 NEMEETINI 



THE following notes have kindly been furnished by Mr. E. C. Punnett of 

 St. Andrews. In a rapidly growing study like that of important groups 

 of marine organisms, it is impossible for an author who has removed to 

 so distant a colony as New Zealand, where Dr.* Benham now is, to give 

 the final touches to his work, if it is to be up to date. The editor has 

 gladly availed himself of Mr. Punnett's knowledge of the Nemertin.es to 

 complete this chapter. E. E. L. 



9th July 1901. 



Within the last few years considerable attention has been paid to this group 

 of worms, resulting in the discovery of certain points in the anatomy of the 

 group, and also in the addition of a number of new forms to those already known. 

 This has led to the establishment of the following new genera : CARINELLIDAE, 

 Callinera, Bergendal ; Carinesta, Punnett ; (FAM. ?) Gononemertes, Bergendal. 

 EUNEMERTIDAE, Paranemertes, Coe ; EUPOLIIDAE, Parapolia, Coe ; Zygeupolia, 

 Thompson ; Oxypolia, Punnett ; LIXEIDAE, Micrella, Punnett ; Lineopsis, Staub. 

 Of these the two genera Zygeupolia and Micrella are of especial interest on 

 account of certain primitive features which they exhibit, and which render them 

 of importance in the question of the derivation of the two great Heteronemertean 

 families. Among the more interesting points which have been recently noted 

 in the anatomy of the group may be mentioned the following : 



Montgomery (vi) has carefully described and classified the various connective 

 tissues in the group. In the same paper he has come to the conclusion that a body 

 cavity is sometimes represented by spaces between the alimentary canal and inner 

 longitudinal muscle layer of the Heteronemerteans. Montgomery has also pointed 

 out that whilst the posterior nerve commissure is almost always above the anus 

 in the Metanemerteans, in. the genus Proneurotcs it is sub-anal. It has also 

 been shown (vii) that this commissure in the genus Eupolia may be either above 

 or below the anus, or may be altogether absent. The excretory system has been 

 worked out in numerous forms ((iii), (iv), (vii), (viii), (ix), (xi)), and in one 

 species of Eupolia it has been shown to possess both ducts opening to the exterior, 

 and also ducts opening into the alimentary canal (vii). It may be further noted 

 that the caudal appendage of the Lineidae, upon which much stress is laid in 

 classification, shows differences of structure which may ultimately necessitate a 



