[Pboc. Roy. Soc. Victoria 28 (N.S.), Part I., 1915]. 

 Art. V.— Notes on some Victorian Species of Teredo. 



BY 



J. H. GATLIFK 



AND 



C. J. G A URIEL. 



(With Plates XII., XIII.). 



[Read Juue 10th, 1915]. 



Through the courtesy of Mr. G. Kermode, Engineer of Ports and 

 Harbours, and Mr. H. Hopcraft, contractor, of Flinders, an oppor- 

 tunity has been afforded us of examining closely the depredations of 

 our Victorian shipworms, and of ascertaining the specific identity of 

 the creatures responsible for this ravaging work. The alterations at 

 Lakes Entrance provided some excellent material for examination. 

 Mr. Kermode kindly forwarded a piece of Oregon pine about two 

 feet in length, completely riddled by these vermiform mollusks — 

 many of them being alive — the result of eighteen months' immersion. 

 In March, 1914, the Portsea Pier was in course of repair, nine of 

 the piles, of a species of Eucalyptus, being removed. They were 

 badly infested, and with the generous assistance of Mr. Hopcraft, 

 specimens with the animal, shell, and pallets complete were pro- 

 cured. From time to time, considerable attention has been paid 

 to the shipworms, owing to their damaging effects; and from a 

 scientific standpoint, these peculiar mollusks have provided much 

 scope for the anatomist and systematist. Much has been written on 

 the subject and the synonymy will sIioav how, more or less, the 

 species have been misunderstood, many early writers, and engineers' 

 reports, attributing the work of these "worms " to Teredo navalis, 

 whereas the mischief has been caused by several species. To quote 

 Forbes and Hanley, " Writers of the Linnaean school,, both British 

 and Foreign (with the honourable exception of Spengler), contented 

 themselves with classing all the shipworms under the one appella- 

 tion navalis, describing the tube, but neglecting the more important 

 anterior valves and the characteristic pallets." 



We have experienced difficulty in separating the species by the 

 valves, and, apart from the animal, we regard the pallet as the 

 one certain means of identification. 



