484 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [May, 



NEW POLYCHJETA FROM CALIFORNIA. 



BY J. PERCY MOORE. 



Some Polychseta gathered by Mr. E. C. Starks, at San Diego, Cali- 

 fornia, were recently sent to me for determination by Prof. Harold 

 Heath, of Leland Stanford, Jr., University. Besides the eight herein 

 described the collection includes about thirty species, most of which 

 have been recorded from the Pacific coast by Johnson, Baird, Fewkes 

 and others. A full list of these wOl be published in another connection. 

 Diopatra californica n. s. (PI. XXXVII, figs, l to 9.) 



This species probably attains a length of 200 mm., although the 

 only complete example measures only 110 mm. long and 5 mm. wide at 

 the termination of the region of long branchise. Prostomium small, 

 mostly concealed by the bases of its appendages. Frontal tentacles 

 nearly in contact at their bases, fusiform, nearly equal to the pros- 

 tomium in length. Five principal tentacles similar in size, form and 

 structure, arising in close contact from an arcuate area nearly covering 

 the dorsum of the prostomium. The basal fourth of each forming a 

 conspicuous ceratophore divided into twelve to fom'teen rings equalling 

 in length the head and frontal tentacles, the styles smooth, slender 

 and tapering, apparently subequal, but the tips imperfect. Eyes, a 

 pair of prominent, slightly pigmented swellings nearly in contact and 

 occup3dng most of the region of the head posterior to the tentacles. 

 Palps prominent, slightly bilobed processes bounding the mouth in 

 front and in contact mesially. 



Peristomium slightly shorter than the prostomium, which it em- 

 braces laterally. Nuchal tentacles on its extreme anterior margin, 

 and in line with the outer edge of the inner lateral tentacles. The 

 next two or three somites nearly equal the peristomium, and are 

 rounded at the margins, while the remaining ones are much shorter, 

 usually only about one-sixth or one-eighth of their width. For about 

 the first fifth of the body through the branchial region they are much 

 flattened, but beyond that become gradually rounded and taper toward 

 the tail, which is terminated by a bead-like pygidiimi bearing near the 

 middle line a pair of delicate ventral cirri having a length equal to the 

 last eight or nine somites. 



