104 APHRODITACE^. 



sometimes obtained. Baster tells us that the sexes are distinct: 

 " Hse Aphroditee eodem, quo pisces, modo generare videntur ; et si 

 quis earum quasdam Junio mense dissecuirit, mares lactibus, foemellas 

 multis ovis iustructas videbit." 



(a) Firth of Forth, Lieut. Thomas, R.N. 



(b) Berwick Bay, Dr. Johnston. 



(c) Berwick Bay, Dr. Johnston. 



Plate IX. Fig. I. Aph. aculeata of the natural size. 2. The head un- 

 covered. 3. The head detached and somewhat magnified. 4. Under 

 view of the anterior part of the body. 5. The orifice of the proboscis. 

 6. The proboscis laid open by a longitudinal section. 7- A few of the 

 penicillate filaments magnified. 8 & 9. Two views of the feet. 10. 

 Various bristles. 1 1 . The spine. 



2. Aph. borealis, proboscis edentulous ; setaceous bristles of the 

 dorsal branch of the foot without splendour, few ; those of the ven- 

 tral branch simple ; all smooth. Length 14'". Plate X. fig. 1-13. 

 Aphrodite boreahs, Johnston in Ann. Nat. Hist. iv.370. pi. 10. f. 1-13. 

 Hab. Coralline region : rare. 



Desc, The specimen described is 1 4 lines in length, and 4 in its 

 greatest breadth : the body is elliptical, rather narrower posteriorly 

 than in front, of a uniform greyish-white colour, somewhat hairy and 

 hispid on the sides from the various bristles which garnish the feet 

 (PI. X. figs. 1,2). The scales form a series on each side ; they are 

 roundish, smooth, thin and flexible, vesicular in the specimen, pro- 

 bably from immersion in spirits ; there are fifteen pairs of them, 

 but the first two pairs and the three caudal ones are so small as to 

 be easily overlooked. The head (fig. 3) is entirely concealed under 

 the front scales ; it is furnished with two proportionably large, seta- 

 ceous, smooth palpi, approximated at the base, but I was not able to 

 detect any antennae. The mouth (fig. 4) is inferior, large, circular, 

 puckered, armed with a strong retractile proboscis, the orifice of 

 which is encircled with a row of tentacular papillae (fig. 5), but there 

 is no appearance of jaws. There seemed to be 30 feet on each side, 

 but, from the closeness and minuteness of the posterior pairs, the 

 number was not very exactly to be counted : they are biramous, the 

 branches widely apart. The dorsal branch (fig. 6) of every alternate 

 foot carries a scale or elytron, and is armed with spines, various 

 bristles, and a sort of tangled hair, which partially covers the scale. 

 It is shorter than the ventral branch, obtuse, somewhat sinuated, 

 and contains two spines : the dorsal fascicle of bristles is long, 

 reflected backwards, the bristles unequal in length, rather slender, 

 sharp-pointed, smooth, and curved : the next fascicle consists of 

 similar bristles, but shorter ; and there is a still lower fascicle of very 

 slender ones. The ventral branch (fig. 7) of the foot is strong, 

 rugose, obtusely conoid, covered with minute transparent vesicles, 

 and armed with five stout bristles, and with a spine of a yellowish 



