Polynoe imhricata 8f P. lepidota. 353. 



This I cannot doubt is the Aphrodita imbricata mentioned by- 

 Professor Jamieson and Mr. Stewart as common on Leith shore. 

 f believe that the A. punctata of the former is a variety ; nor do I 

 hesitate to give the A. squamata of British authours as another 

 synonyme. In this the scales are stated to be dotted with black, 

 as indeed they appear to be when examined while they adhere io 

 the animal. Whether it is the Polynoe squamata of Lamarck is 

 doubtful. That species is said to have only twelve scales on each 

 side, which are said also to be not imbricate; characters, which 

 would seem to indicate a different species. 



3. P. LEPIDOTA. 



3. P. ohlongo-HneariSy la^vis^ dor so sanguineo^ later ibusque pallidis : 

 squamis ovatis^ bicoloratis, 



Aphrodita minuta. Pennant. ? 

 lepidota. Turton. 



Hub. The sea, under stones, amongst Fuci, &c« 

 Desc. Body linear oblong, half an inch long, sometimes one 

 inch, with a blood-red broad fascia along the back, and yellowish 

 sides dotted with black. Head concealed by the scales. Scales 

 fourteen or fifteen on each side, ovate, two-coloured, the one half 

 being pink, the other half yellowish, with a roughish punctured 

 appearance, which arises from very short spines with which they 

 are covered, and which are visible only on the margin or in certain 

 lights. Feet yellowish. Ventral surface perlaceous, stained with 

 the viscera. 



There can be no doubt I think of this being the Aphrodita 

 lepidota of British naturalists. They have always quoted the 

 A. minuta of Pennant as synonymous, but the correctness of this 

 is very questionable, since that author takes no notice of the lon- 

 gitudinal red fascia, a character not likely to have been overlooked 

 by one whose attention was solely directed to external and promi- 

 nent marks, and his figure seems designed for a different species. 

 It is certainly not the A. minuta of Fabricius in the Fauna Groen- 

 landica, at least the recollection I have of the descri])tion of that 

 species does not tally with ours. 



