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On Mac/ouia Iricolor (Montagu). 



By 



Arthur Willey, 

 D.Sc, London, Hon. M.A., Cantab. 



It is a pity that there should be any doubt as to the legitimacy of the 

 generic and specific names of one of the longest Chaetopoda inhabiting 

 Plymouth Sound, and it seems worth while to devote a special note to 

 its synonymy and identification. 



[Names marlcecl with an asterisk are synonyms.'] 



*1. Nereis iricolor, Montagu, 1802. Description of several marine 

 animals found on the South Coast of Devonshire. Tr. Linn. Soc, 

 London, VIL, Dec, 1802, p. 82. 



Montagu found his specimen coiled under a stone among the rocks 

 at Milton. It was the largest specimen of the genus [s.l.] hitherto 

 recorded in British seas, measuring, when extended, about 3 feet in 

 length, with the thickness of a raven's quill. When placed in fresh 

 water it contracted to 1 foot in length, with the thickness of a goose- 

 quill. 



*2. Lumhrineris gigaiitca, Quatrefages, 18G5. Hist, des Anneles, 

 vol. i. p. 3G0. Hab. Brehat ; individuals in life measuring upwards of 

 CO cm. 



*3. Lumhrineris tricolor, Johnston, 18G5. A Catalogue of the 

 British non-parasitical worms, London, p. 142. Hab. South Devon. 

 " One specimen in the iMuseum Collection is 11 inches in length, and 

 as thick as a large quill." 



The parapodia are figured upside down. Johnson mentions " two 

 dark spots obscurely marked, which may be eyes," at the posterior 

 border of the cephalic lobe. 



*4. Arabella tricolor (Johnst.). Ehlers, 1868. Die Borstenwiirmer, 

 pp. 399 and 405. 



