TYPHLORFTYNnHUS NANUS. 637 



Typhlorhynchus nanus; a New Rhabdocoele. 



By 

 F. F. Laidlaw, B.A. 



With Plate 35. 



The small Ehabdocoele described below was found by Mr. 

 Goodrich at Naples, living on the body of the Polych^ete 

 worm Nephthys scolopendroides, Delle Chiaje. He sent 

 a number of specimens preserved with Lang's reagent to 

 Dr. Gamble, who was good enough to hand them over to me 

 for examination. I am indebted to Mr. Goodrich for a 

 further series of specimens, some fixed with corrosive sub- 

 limate and acetic acid, others with Lang's reagent; also for 

 figs. 2, 6 a, b, drawn from life. I have, unfortunately, been 

 unable to study living specimens ; hence my account, especially 

 as regards the genital organs, is necessarily somewhat incom- 

 plete. The work was done in the Zoological Laboratory at 

 Owens College. 



The external appearance and general characters 

 are shown in PI. 35, fig. 1. 



The total length of the body varies from '7 mm. to 1 mm. 

 In size, therefore, it is quite comparable to a large infusorian 

 such as Stentor polymorphus, Mull. The variations in 

 length between different specimens depend largely on the 

 amount of extension or contraction of the body, especially of 

 that part of it constricted off to form the snout or proboscis. 



The body is spindle-shaped (see PI. 35, fig. 1), the anterior 

 end more pointed than the posterior. The front fifth of the 



VOL. 45, PART 4. NEW SERIES. U U 



