REPORT ON THE GEPHYREA. 19 



The body is from four to seven times as long as it is broad. Tlie pi-oboscis is as long 

 as the body or still longer. The skin is tliin and covered with small scattered papillse. 

 Behind the middle of the body there is a broad girdle of flat attaching papillae, measuring 

 0"24 mm., and arranged sparingly after a cjuincuncial pattern. In front on the proboscis 

 there are several rows of simple hooks, whose bases measure about 0'05 mm. The 

 ventral retractor of the proboscis is united with the dorsal to form one muscle. The 

 intestinal spiral is short, with only two to four coils. There is on the rectum a small 

 diverticulum. The contractile tube is without ceeca. The single segmental organ in 

 fastened to the body-wall by numerous bauds. 



Habitat. — H.M.S. "Porcupine," Killibegs Harbour, Ireland, June 24, 18G9. 



Genus 8. Aspidosii^hon, Grube. 



At the anus and at the posterior end of the body there is a distinct sliield. The 

 proboscis is very long, and much thinner than the l>ody. It is exccntric, and originates 

 ventrally from the anal shield. There are almost always hooks present, and these usually 

 exhibit two forms. The longitudinal musculature may be either continuous or separated 

 into bands. The tentacles, which are small and finger-shajjed, are few in nuiubei-. 

 Found in all seas. 



19. Aspidosiphon speculatoy, n. sp. (PI. IV. figs. 24-27). 



The anal shield is rough and granulated ; the posterior shielil is grooved in a radiate 

 fashion (with about thirty peripheral grooves). The longitudinal musculature of the 

 body-wall is divided up into bands. 



In the three specimens preserved, the colour of the general body surface was yellowish- 

 brown, that of the anal and caudal shield dark In-own. The body of the largest imimal 

 measured 14 mm. in length. The proboscis was of equal length, but one may certainly 

 suppose that it could be very much elongated, as is the case in all the other species of 

 Aspidomplion. 



In the anterior third of the body there are about twenty-two bundles of longitu- 

 dinal muscles, anastomosing in a complex manner. Through the other two-thirds of the 

 body these run in the form of fine distinct bands. The two strong ventral retractors of 

 the proboscis originate a short way in front of the caudal shield and run together about 

 half way up the body. 



In Aspidosiphon speculator, as in all .species of Aspidosiphon, the tentacles arc few 

 and short. 



The skin glands are supported by countless small plates of chitin, which fonn a i-ino: 



