NOTES OX A DEEP-SEA ECHIUROID. 141 



concerned, tlie present species shows no striking characteristic 

 points as compared with the known allied forms of the 

 Bonellid^e. This similarity is especially remarkable if the 

 present species is compared with Hamingia ijimai, the one 

 interesting point of difference being the reversed or posterior 

 (in this species) instead of anterior position of the jnnction 

 betAveen the fore and the liind guts. This posterior shifting 

 of the junction of the two parts of the gut causes the extra- 

 ordinary elongation of the neuro-intestinal vessel. 



On both sides of the posterior terminal part of the rectum 

 there are two bushy groups of anal glands. With regard to 

 the manner of branching of the organs, the present species 

 presents a remarkable point of identity to Hamingia ijimai, 

 for in both species the main tube or stem is multiplied in 

 number. Fig. 8 represents the organ on the right side cut 

 short of all branches in order to bring forth more clearly the 

 relation which the oi'gan bears to the rectum. There four 

 larger and smaller main stems are seen clustered together at 

 their roots, which arise from the side walls of the rectum 

 almost independently from one another. That stem standing 

 out most dorsally (hindmost in the figure) is the stoutest, 

 and gives off several secondary branches. The organ on the 

 left side is essentially of the same nature as that just described, 

 the only difference being that the dorsal largest stem arises 

 more decidedly apart from the others. Each of these main 

 stems gives rise to numerous branches (from primary to 

 tertiary), to which comparatively large funnels are attached, 

 about three to eight to each terminal branch let. All of the 

 primai'y as well as many of the larger secondary branches are 

 attached in their mid-way respectively by a thick fixing 

 muscle arising from the inside of the skin. 



The vascular system of the body proper consists, as in 

 many other species of Echiuroids, of the ventral vessel, the 

 dorsal vessel, and the neuro-intestinal vessel. The ventral 

 vessel (fig. 9, r. v.) is supported by a conspicuously wide 

 mesentery {m. .<?.), arising from, and running along, the whole 

 length of the nerve-cord (r. n.). Eeaching the posterior end 



