Benham. — The Sipunculids of New Zealand. 183 



It will be noted that the most striking difference in regard 

 to the dimensions of these two species is exhibited by the 

 " breadth of body anteriorly," for in Baird's example this is 

 very much less than in Hutton's. But, presumably, each took 

 the greatest diameter, which in the former case is near the 

 hinder and in the latter near the anterior end, and this 

 greatest diameter is nearly identical. May we explain this 

 difference in form by difference of contraction on death ? 



A comparison of the brief diagnosis of Sipunculus ceneus 

 with that of S. lutulentus presents only three apparent 

 differences, apart from colour and dimensions — viz., the 

 character of the surface of the body in the various regions : 

 (a) the condition of the hinder end of the body ; (6) the con- 

 dition of the proboscis ; and (c) the character of the skin of the 

 body. In both the first two cases S. lutulentus is " rougher " 

 than S. ceneus. But if we read Baird's longer description we 

 find that the " smoothness " referred to in the Latin diagnosis 

 is qualified : the caudal extremity being " almost smooth," 

 and the proboscis " smooth-looking." Now, as I have men- 

 tioned in the description of the species, I find a good deal of 

 difference exhibited by the surface of the body of the speci- 

 mens in my possession, depending on the mode of preserva- 

 tion. For example, in two of the Warrington individuals 

 (killed slowly in alcohol) the reticulation — i.e., " roughness " — 

 on the hinder end is by no means evident, and one would 

 call it " smooth " ; also, in most of the individuals collected 

 in Auckland Harbour, at Waiheke (preserved in formol), the 

 body appears smooth, whereas in others the body-wall is 

 more strongly contracted and the reticulations are more pro- 

 minent, (c.) Baird's species is said to be covered with 

 "small warty-looking tubercles," or, in the words of the 

 diagnosis, the surface is, in the middle part of the body, 

 "minutely granulated"; whereas S. lutulentus, according to 

 Captain Hutton, has a "smooth" body. In the account 

 given of the specimens described in this paper I have men- 

 tioned the minute tubercles, and I find that in some indi- 

 viduals these are much less evident than in others, and no 

 doubt this is due to the method of preservation. 



As regards the colour, Baird's is " white," Hutton's is. 

 " pale-brown." Here, too, I find the same differences, as I 

 have mentioned. 



In conclusion, I believe that these two species are syno- 

 nymous ; and, notwithstanding the great difference in size 

 between these on the one hand and the numerous individuals 

 in my possession on the other, I believe that the latter too 

 are of the same species, which must stand as Dendrostoma. 

 CBueum, Baird. 



