714 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [16] 



ginia. Clapar^de regards the form of the cirri and antennae, swollen, 

 spherical at base, as a generic characteristic. That this is not valid is 

 shown by S. fortuita and also by one of the new forms described below. 



Sph^rosyllis brevifrons, n. sp. 



(Pl. Ill, Figs. 24-30.) 



This species belongs to the typical Sph^rosyllis in the form of 

 the dorsal appendages, in the presence of numerous papillae, and in 

 general structure, but differs from any heretofore described in the short- 

 ness of the palpi, and from all save /S. fortuita in the presence of a well- 

 marked buccal segment, visible from above. 



The head (fig. 24) is short, very wide, almost completely fused with 

 the palpi in front, sides rounded ; middle third of the posterior margin 

 convex, encroaching on the buccal segment ; the margin, external to the 

 middle third, slightly concave. Eyes, six ; the posterior pairs widely 

 separated ; those on each side close together ; the external pair some- 

 times crescentic, sometimes oval; the internal small, circular; the ante- 

 rior pair minute, situated just external to the bases of the lateral 

 antennae. 



The palpi are short, coalesced, slightly emarginate in front. 



The antennae have a swollen, globular base, and a short cylindrical 

 outer part. 



The tentacular cirri are like the antennae, but a little longer. 



The buccal segment, according to the state of contraction, may be 

 from one-third to three-fourths as long as the next segment. 



The dorsal cirri have also a swollen base, which forms about one-half 

 the entire length. Sometimes the base passes gradually into the outer 

 part ; in this case there is usually a single constriction (tig. 26) ; or the 

 base may be separated by a well-defined constriction from the outer part, 

 in which case the appendix may usually be regarded as composed of two 

 articles (fig. 27). 



The anal cirri (fig. 25) are stouter than the dorsal, much swollen at 

 base, without constriction. 



The ventral cirri (fig. 26) are slightly flattened, sides nearly straight, 

 apex bluntly rounded, about one-half as long as the dorsal cirri. 



In each bundle of setae is one simple, straight, or slightly curved, seta 

 (figs. 29, 30) ; the others are compound, and practically all of one kind 

 (fig. 28), differing only in length of stem and appendix. 



Pharynx occupying about three segments ; stomach a little shorter 

 than the pharynx. 



Body, colorless ; eyes, red. 



Length, l"""^. 



Width, 0.17'"'". 



Number of segments, 22. 



