COE: NEMERTEANS OF WEST AND NORTHWEST COASTS. 307 



mined, end in small papillae on ventral surface of each side of head. 

 The worms are more or less distinctly pelagic and probably swim 

 actively. 



Professor Heath has kindly sent me a brief account of the appear- 

 ance and general anatomy of the species found in California. Some 

 of the peculiarities of this form are as follows : — 



Shape of body as in JV. tnirabilis, one individual having the fol- 

 lowing measurements : length 41 mm., greatest width 7.2 mm., 

 wadth of head 5.8 mm., thickness of head 3.3 mm., gi-eatest thick- 

 ness of body region '2.5 mm., length of nuchal cirri 6 mm. Color 

 in life bright scarlet ; translucent. Mouth separate from proboscis 

 pore ; esophagus large, with glandular w^alls ; intestinal caecum well 

 developed, with lateral diverticula, the branches of which extend 

 dorsal ly and inward nearly to median line ; intestine with numerous 

 branching diverticula, extending into caudal fin. 



Three specimens were taken from the lines used by the Chinese 

 in deep sea fishing near Monterey, California. 



A detailed study of this most interesting form is being made by 

 Professor Heath and Miss Mary Cravens, and is to be published in 

 the Zoologische Jahrbiicher. This study will doubtless determine 

 more definitely the systematic position of this remarkable genus, 

 which, as stated by Verrill ('92, p. 446), evidently belongs to the 

 HoPLONEMERTEA, although the proboscis is without armature ; in 

 this, as in many other peculiarities, the genus shows a rather close 

 afiinity with Pelagonemertes and Hyalonemertes, all the species 

 of which are likewise pelagic. 



It may later appear that one or both of the species referred to in 

 the footnote on page 305 belong to this genus, and it is possible 

 that one of them will prove to be identical with the species collected 

 by Professor Heath. 



