129 



sing distally in length, and of a great number of small ones. This pectinated bristle was at 

 first observed by Mc Intosh in Eidepis Wyvillei and Ejilepis challengeriae^), but overlooked 

 by Grube in E. Jiamifera (as I presume), as well as by Treadwell in E. splendida and E. 

 fimbriata, for Augener afterwards stated its presence in E. splendida'). I suppose, that this 

 remarquable bristle has a different shape in the different species of Eiilepis. In both parts of 

 the parapodium the distal end of the acicula has a particular shape ; in the notopodium it is 

 bent like a hook and in the neuropodium it is enlarged to a transverse lamella, like the head 

 of a hammer. Presumably this represents the "auffallendes braunes breites etwas mondförmiges 

 Plattchen" mentioned by Grube on page 53. The ventral cirrus consists of an enlarged, lamellar 

 basal portion and a clavate terminal appendage. The small worm of Station 204 has a long 

 unpaired anal cirrus, e.xtending over five segments. 



Of the tive described Etilepis-s\i&ó&s {E. haniifcra Gr., E. Wyvillei Mc Int., E. chal- 

 lengeriae Mc Int., E. fimbriata Treadw., E. splendida Treadw.) four are found in West-Indian 

 waters and E. hamifera only was dredged in the neighbourhood of the Malay Archipelago 

 viz. the sea of the Philippines. However I think that the Siboga-species cannot be identified 

 with it ; for according to Grube, E. fiaitiifcra has the surface of the scales densely covered 

 with short papillae, and long ones occur along the e.xterior and posterior border. The ante- 

 " rior eleven pairs of elytra are situated on segment 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 — 2 1 ; segments 22 — 27 

 bear lamellar organs, somewhat resembling elytra, whereas in the posterior body-region all 

 segments should be provided with scales. However I think that only twelve pairs were present -, 

 for Grube mentions, that also in E. hamifera the twelfth pair of scales are the longest, like 

 in the Siboga-species and in the species described by Treadwell. Mc Intosh believes, that 

 his E. Wyvillei has fifteen pairs of scales, but as .several of the scales were wanting, this 

 could be a mistake ; of E. cliallengeriac only an anterior fragment of the body was at his 

 disposal. Therefore I presume, that the genus Eiilepis is characterised by the presence of 1 2 

 pairs of elytra, the posterior of which is the longest and covers a great part of the body. 



Sub-familv Acoëtinae. 



Body elongate. Proboscis with numerous papillae on the margin, the median dorsal and 

 ventral one of which are tentaculiform ; four jaws with a strong apical tooth and several smaller 

 ones on the cutting edge. Eyes on the dorsum or on two lateral or frontal prolongations of 

 the prostomium. Generally three antennae. Elytra on the segments 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and on every 

 succeeding alternate segment. Bristles simple ; a spinning-gland, producing a tuft of long and 

 soft hairs, in the notopodium of the posterior segments (behind the 8'''). Two anal cirri. 



At the IX''' Internat, congress of Zoology, Monaco 191 3, Fauvel gave a critical ac- 

 count of this family, with which I can agree very well ■'). 



i) Loc. cit. p. 131. 



2) Westindische Polychaeten ; Buil. Mus. Comp. Zoology, Harvard College, Vol. 43, 1904, p. 128. 



3) Sur la classification des Acoëtines. 



85 



