lOSPILIDAE. 127 



attached above near the distal end of the parapodium. The notocirri of the 

 posterior region in the type have been lost. 



The acicula in each parapodium are two in number, one extending into 

 each lobe, and narrowing distad into the usual acute point. The notopodial 

 aciculiun is distally more slender than the neuropodial, with the tip curved 

 somewhat dorsad. The parapodial surface is angularly elevated about the tip 

 of each aciculum. The notopodial setae are numerous and long, though shorter 

 and more slender ones occur in each fascicle. Each typical seta is flattened, 

 blade-Uke, of nearly uniform tliickness and width, excepting distally, where it 

 narrows to an acute point. The neuropodial setae are much shorter, stout, 

 and cylindrical. They vary in length and thickness among themselves, the 

 ventral ones being the shorter and more slender. They are gently curved, 

 commonly showing a weakly sigmoid flexure. At the tip each bears an acute, 

 distally curved tooth, with on the opposite side a weak, obtuse, angular extension. 

 (Plate 18, fig. 7, 8; Plate 19, fig. 3, 4). 



Locality. Gilbert Islands: off Apaiang. Surface, by electric night Hght. 

 3 Januarj', 1900. One specimen. 



The character of the proboscis in this interesting form could not be deter- 

 mined hi its retracted condition. The form is at once distinguishable by the 

 characters presented in the biacicular parapocUa and the setae. 



PONTODORIDAE. 



Closely related to the Phyllodocidae sens, str., and by most authors hitherto 

 included in a single family with them, are the members of tliree small families, 

 as defined by Bergstrom, not represented in the present collections. Of these 

 the first is the Pontodoridae, containing at present only the genus Pontodora 

 Greeff, which differs from the true phyllodocids in having only two tentacles, 

 in having a pair of palpi, and in having the parapodia enormously elongate. 

 The genus is pelagic. 



loSPILIDAE. 



The second familj^ lospilidae, is characterized by the complete absence 

 of tentacles and the presence of a pair of palpi. The proboscis is unarmed or 

 with two hard lateral papillae. Parapodia and eyes normal. All species are 

 pelagic. There are three genera which may be separated as follows: 



