from (he ]S orth Sea and adjacent parts. 



253 



tlnee taken at Station 40 B liad an external coating composed 

 of broken pieces of Hjdroids — mostly Ohtlia and Sertularia 

 — small ])ecten-valves, coarse sand, and ])ieces of gravel. 

 Those obtained in Sagna Fiord were qnill-like, and were 

 taken along with Nephthydidse, Eunicidoe, and Maldanid£e. 



Sometimes tubes are obtained showing forked branching, 

 an ap])earance which is due to a fracture of the tube, and the 

 continuation of the latter, not by the union of the broken 

 ends, but by the secretion of a new piece with which the 

 tunnel is continuous. The broken fragment has its channel 

 closed, and it remains adherent apparently as a useless pro- 

 cess. Prof. M'Intosh says, " this occurs both anteriorly and 

 posteriorly, as tubes are found with a diaphragm in each 

 limb of the fork. The bifurcation is thus only apparent, not 

 actual " *. 



This genus is represented in the 'Challenger' collection by 

 a new species called I'hyllochoitopterus daparedii. 



Genus SPlOCHiETOPTEKUS, Sars. 



Several tubes belonging to this genus were found in the 

 follovsinii" hauls : — 



The tubes are all sizes and some are coated with fragments 

 of small shells, valves of minute pectens, coarse sand, and 

 gravel. Some, however, have a thick paper-like constituency 

 and are very wide in bore. If the fragments of shells etc. be 

 picked off or dissolved away, the internal portion of the tubes 

 is yellowish and hyaline in character ; but in the paper-like 

 tubes no trace of the hyaline character is visible. ISlone of 

 the tubes sliovv the valvuhu' condition. 



In the ' Challenger ' Expedition several yellowish hyaline 



* Vide ' Challenger ' Report, \ol. xii. p. 376. 



