272 A MONOGBAPH OF THE AUSTRALIAN APHRODITEA, 



Genus Hermione, Blainv. 

 Hermione brachyceras sp. n. (PI. VII., figs. 1 — 3.) 



In this species the setiferous segments are 32 in number and 

 the elytra 15 pairs. The prsestomium is small and the mesial 

 tentacle is a very short and stout process ; the buccal tentacles 

 on the other hand are very long, geniculate, cylindrical and 

 tapering ; around their bases are a series of short processes. The 

 first body-segment has a small parapodium with short seta3 and a 

 long slender ventral (tentacular) cirrus. The neuropodia and 

 notopodia are distinct, the former are long and narrow, the latter 

 much shorter and wider ; and the ventral cirri are very short. 

 The notopodia, as in most species of the genus are divisible into 

 two sets in accordance with the arrangement of the setae ; in the 

 second, fourth, and every alternate segment the seta) are few, 

 iVths of an inch in length, pointed at the extremity and 

 provided with a double row of obscure serrations ; in the third, 

 fifth, and every alternate segment the setee are much more 

 numerous, and are arranged in two series, of which the inner, to 

 the number of six, lie flat on the scales, while the outer, to the 

 number of about a dozen, are directed upwards and backwards, 

 and are quarter of an inch in length ; the setae on the second set 

 of parapodia are pointed and mostly provided with a double 

 series of conspicuous barb-like teeth; a few, however, are simple 

 and very slender. The ventral setae, which are only three in 

 number in each parapodium, are stout, nearly 1-1 0th of an inch 

 in length, bifurcate near the extremity, one branch being short 

 and broad, while the longer branch bears a denticle near its apex- 

 The elytra are delicate, colourless and translucent. The ventral 

 surface and the parapodia are papillose. The length is |ths of 

 an inch, and the breadth ith of an inch. 



One specimen of this species was obtained on a coral reef in 

 Port MoUe, Whitsunday Passage, during the surveying cruise of 

 H.M.S. ''Alert." Its nearest ally appears to be H. Math^i oi 

 Uuatrefagea from the Isle of France. 



