1886.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED bTATEiS NATIONAL MUSEUM. 547 



DESCRIPTIONS OP TEN SPECIES AND ONE NEW GENUS OF AN- 

 NELIDS PROM THE DREDGINGS OP THE U. S. PISH COMMISSION 

 STEAMER ALBATROSS. 



By JTAITIES £. BKIVEDICT. 



(With six plates. ) 



SEEPULID^. 



The ten species described in this paper were collected on the Albatross 

 expeditions during the years 1883-'85. Five are well known, and five 

 are believed to be new. Other species of the family in the collection 

 remain to be described in another paper. " 



The Serpulidse are not among the easiest annelids to collect. The 

 tubes are nearly always attached to dead shells and stones, which from 

 their nature are likely to be left to the last for preservation, and then, 

 if the tubes are not broken with much care, the inhabitants are likely 

 to be badly mutilated, while as a rule those left in the tubes are not 

 well preserved. Altogether there is no family of animals more likely 

 to be neglected in dredging, when more showy, and apparently more 

 delicate, forms are abundant. 



'» 

 Peotula Eisso. 



Protula diomedese, n. sp. 



(Plate XX, figs. 1-6.) 



The branchial filaments are inserted on a spiral of about 1^ turns, 

 and are about 40 in number. Eye-like spots are exposed to view when 

 the branchiae are detached. 



The thoracic lamellae are broad and thin, with entire edges. 



The thoracic setae are long and slender, outer third limbate (fig. 3). 

 The uncini of this region are shorter and broader than those of the 

 abdomen (figs. 1 and 2). The anterior abdominal setae are short, with 

 broad, flat, and slightly falcate blades. The inner edges of the blades 

 are serrate (fig. 4). The extreme posterior abdominal setae, as is common 

 in species of this genus, are very long and hair-like, with curved points. 



The tubes (fig. 6) are from 4 to 5 inches in length, and are attached 

 by the base to objects on the bottom. The lines of growth are not 

 conspicuous. The surface is very rough to the touch, reminding one 

 of shark skin. 



The average length of specimens in alcohol is 40°i""; breadth, 3™™. 

 Length of thorax, 11°»™; from collar to end of branchiae, 10"^'". 



Dredged in great numbers at station 2307, in 43 fathoms, off Cape 

 Hatteras; and one or two at a time at other stations. 



