668 THE MARINE ANNELIDES OF THE ORDER SERPULEA, 



" Branchito breves, cirris 34. Operculum radiatim striatum, 

 spinis medianis, dentiferis crespitose dispositis. Corpus 130-140 

 annulis compositum, anterioribus 7. Seta? inferiores subulatse, 

 incurvatae. Laminse crenulatre. Tubus angulatus, bicarinatus." 

 (Quatrefages.) 



This species, characterised by the numerous spines in the 

 operculum is not uncommon in Port Jackson. It is a solitary 

 species, never being found in clusters like V. caespitosa, and always 

 inhabiting a deeper zone. The dorsal seta? are almost identical 

 in form with those of Pomatoceros. The pectines are very small ; 

 each has from six to nine acute teeth. The branchiae are marked 

 with bands of red and brown. The operculum is light-red, 

 mottled with brown and dark red. The operculum has a pair cf 

 lateral folds with filiform processes as in Pomatoceros. This is 

 a larger species than Venn ilia ca'sjntosa, being an inch and three- 

 quarters in length. 



9. Serpula vasifera. N. sp. 

 [Plate XXXI., fig. 6, and Plate XXXIL, figs. 6-8.] 



There are 152 segments in the body of this species. The 

 operculum (pi. XXXIL, fig. 6), has a tolerably long cylindrical 

 peduncle ; the operculum is vase-shaped with slight dilation 

 where it joins the peduncle ; the sides of the vase are formed 

 of about twenty-five ribs, each of which ends at the rim of the 

 vase in a prominent lobe. The distal surface of the vase presents 

 a deep, rounded, central hollow surrounded by a broad margin 

 which is almost transverse to the long axis of the operculum, but 

 slopes slightly upwards towards the lobed margin. 



The branchiae are fifty in number, with stout stems and delicate 

 pinnules. In length they are about equal to the thorax, and 

 extend to a little beyond the extremity of the operculum. The 

 thorax is about one-fourth of the length of the abdomen; it 

 possesses a wide collarette and lateral flaps. 



The dorsal setse of the thorac segments (pi. XXXIL, fig. 8), 

 are feathered on one side towards the apex, and taper to a very 

 acute point ; the length is about , ] th of an inch; there are forty or 







