MALDAXIDAE. 407 



coarse oblique ridges running from each caudolateral corner is also crossed by 

 weaker, but still very distinct, transverse furrows. (Plate 78, fig. 10). 



The marginal fasciae about the ventral plate have the setae of the usual 

 general form. These are relatively shorter and stouter than in S. scutata. 

 They have the usual hairy covering. 



The branchial plates are proportionately broader than in <S. scutata, and 

 are much less flattened, being conspicuously convex. 



Branchiae numerous, densely arranged and very fine. 



Locality. Gulf of CaUfornia: Sta. 3437 (lat. 27° 39' 40" N., long. 

 111° 0' 30" W.). Depth 628 fms. Bottom of brown mud with black specks. 

 Bottom temp. 40° F. 23 April, 1891. One imperfect specimen. 



Maldanidae. 



The body of the maldanids is cylindrical, smooth, and proportionately 

 elongate. It is of nearly uniform diameter throughout, though sometimes 

 slightly narrowing caudad. The somites are for the most part elongate and few 

 in number, ordinarily twenty-sLx or twenty-seven, and but rarely exceeding 

 thirty. Three divisions may be seen, in the anterior of which the parapodia are 

 found on the cephalic part of the somites, while in the succeeding somites the 

 parapodia are shifted to the caudal border. The coloration is often varied, 

 tints of red, yellow, and brown being frequent; several of the most anterior 

 somites have ordinarily a different color from the rest of the body. 



The prostomium lacks appendages or prominences, excepting that it may 

 possess marginal elevations of limbi, wliich are entire or dentate, and a median 

 keel, on each side of wliich are the nuchal furrows, which are often bowed, but 

 sometimes straight. 



The peristomium is achaetous and devoid of processes, except that it may 

 have a more or less prominent dorsal lamina. It is fused with the prostomium. 



The parapodia are biramous. They lack cirri or other processes. 



Branchiae are never found on the anterior region, though very exceptionally 

 there may be developed on some of the caudal somites short and simple branchi- 

 form processes. 



The notopodial setae are simple and capUlary and present much variety 

 in form, being limbate, pinnate, or spined; conunonly an anterior and a posterior 

 group, with sometimes a small ventral one. The neuropodial setae are acicular 

 or crochet-formed, and are arranged in either simple or double rows down the 



