1909.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 245 



more numerous paragnaths and a greater number of segments. Prob- 

 ably it must be considered to be at least a subspecies under the name 

 of brandti Malmgren. 



These specimens from southern California exhibit more extreme 

 divergence in the same direction. Like both of the forms mentioned 

 the paragnaths are reduced in number with age and increased size, 

 but compared with specimens of the same size they are very much 

 more numerous. For example a specimen 150 mm. long and 8 mm. 

 wide between the tips of the parapodia and having 218 segments 1 has 

 the hard, black, strictly conical paragnaths arranged as follows: I, 

 3 in tandem; II, small groups of 7-9 in two oblique rows; III, broad 

 dense, transverse band of small cones chiefly arranged in longitudinal 

 or somewhat oblique lines of six or seven each, with numerous shorter 

 lines and small groups uniting them anteriorly; IV, dense, somewhat 

 arched, dumbbell-shaped groups of small cones, from three to five 

 across and tending to coalesce at their posterior ends with the lateral 

 borders of III; V, a diffuse subcircular area spreading laterally to 

 the level of VI and with a median row of four large paragnaths reaching 

 anteriorly beyond the others ; VI, a compact group of four or five large 

 cones forming a lozenge-shaped figure; VI and VII coalesced and 

 forming a broad zone encircling the basal ring of the proboscis below 

 the level of VI and nearly joining V above, the numerous cones (from 

 six to ten in the width of the band) increasing in size and becoming 

 more distant anteriorly and dorsally. 



The tentacles are also longer and most of the specimens are note- 

 worthy for the deep brown pigment deposited in the lamellar noto- 

 cirrophores. 



The relations of this form to N. virens and brandti will be discussed 

 fully at another time, when I hope to have for comparison specimens 

 from other parts of the California coast. 



N. foliata Baird evidently applies to the northern form ; N. chilensis 

 Ehlers (=Thoosa Gayi Kinberg) is not at present recognizable, and 

 there appears to be no name for this southern form. 

 Nereis (Platynereis) agassizi Ehlers. 



Nereis agassizi Ehlers, Die Borstenwurmer, 186S, pp. 542-546; Taf. XXIII, 

 fig. 1. 



A few small specimens were taken at San Diego and two at Monterey 

 Bay, one of the latter dredged and one between tides at the "point 

 above Third Beach. 



J! 



1 A specimen of N. virens from New Jersey of the same size has 130 segments. 



