664 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [24] 



Another interesting new species, wbicli was taken at the surface, both 

 this year and last, appears to belong to the genus Syllides.* Among 

 the less common forms of Syllidee were Grubea Websteri V.,t Sphcero- 



from August 2 to September 15, 1881, 1882. Also dredged in Vineyard Sound in 8-12 

 fathoms, among bryozoa and Amorcecium pelluddum. Allied to Syllis fragilis Webs., 

 which probably also belongs to Eusyllis. Described from life. 



*SiilHde8 setosa Verrill, Trans. Conn. Acad., pi. 24, Figs. 11, lie. — Body not very 

 slender, with about 50 segments and large parapodia. Head changeable, usually short, 

 obtusely rounded or subtruncate in front, rounded laterally, closely united to buccal seg- 

 ment. Palpi short, often not visible from above ; below they appear as flat lobes. Eyes 

 sis ; two median ones largest, close to sides of head ; posterior ones a little smaller and 

 nearer together, and close to the others ; front ones very small, close to the outer bases 

 of the palpi. The antennae and four tentacular cirri are all similar in size, form, and 

 color, but the odd antenna is a little the longest (about three times breadth of head), 

 and the tentacular cirri are usually somewhat shorter than the lateral antennae (or 

 about twice the breadth of the head) ; all are contractile and somewhat change- 

 able in form ; usually they are distinctly clavate, with narrow bases and obtuse, 

 swollen, transversely wrinkled tips. Anterior dorsal cirri long, slender, usually more 

 or less clavate, with a distinct basal joint and numerous annulations, becoming more 

 marked distally ; they are as long as the antennae, or longer, and about three times 

 the breadth of the segments ; they often increase in length on the first few segments, 

 but are apt to vary irregularly ; the longest are more than four times as long as the 

 breadth of the segments. The ventral cirri are slender, tapered, with a distinct ob- 

 long terminal article ; they arise far out on the parapodia and project beyond the 

 setigerous lobe, but are not a third as long as the dorsals anteriorly ; posteriorly they 

 are relatively longer. The parapodia are very large in the middle region of the body, 

 with a swollen base and long setigerous lobe. Caudal cirri three ; lateral ones very 

 long, transversely annulated, tapered, acute, often coiled spirally ; median one small 

 and slender. Setae numerous, the compound ones with a long, narrow terminal blade, 

 bidentate at the tip ; simple long setae begin singly on the eighth or ninth setigerous 

 segment ; fascicles of capillary setae appear on the eighteenth, in our largest example. 

 Pharynx very dark colored, large, short, stout, straight, surrounded with a broad 

 sheath, apparently unarmed, but sometimes showing a pale, oblong spot, that might 

 be taken for a feeble tooth, near the anterior end ; its sheath has a circle of soft 

 papillae in front ; stomach brown, large, oblong, usually slightly constricted near the 

 front end, equal in length to about four segments (or to six in alcohol) ; intestine 

 very large, with two rounded brown lobes close to the stomach. Color generally dull 

 orange-yellow, or orange-brown, medially, due to the internal organs; the external 

 parts are whitish ; buccal segment brownish, intestine yellowish brown. Length of 

 the largest specimen, in alcohol, 12™™. Taken at the surface, evening, July 22, 29, 

 and August 15, 1881 ; August 3 to September 12, 1882. Described from life. Another 

 very much smaller form, with about 32 segments, perhaps distinct from the above, 

 occurred. In this the antennae and tentacular cirri are shorter, more decidedly cla- 

 vate ; palpi shorter, scarcely visible from above ; setae with a shorter and less slender 

 article. The stomach and pharynx are dark brown. Bunches of capillary setje begin 

 on the tenth body-segment. Length about 3™™. 



] Gruhea Websteri Verrill, Trans. Conn. Acad., iv, pi. 24, Figs. 6-8. — Small, slender, 

 whitish, with about 33 segments. Three antennae, both pairs of tentacular cirri, 

 dorsal and caudal cirri all similar in shape, long- fusiform, thickest below the mid- 

 dle, tapering and acute, not differing much in size nor in length, but the first pair 

 of dorsal cirri, and those following the eighth, are a little longer than the others or 

 the antennae ; cirri longer than the breadth of the body opposite ; ventral cirri small 

 slender. Head short, rounded in front and laterally ; palpi large and prominent, ta- 

 pered, united above nearly to the obtuse, rounded tips ; eyes six ; frontal ones minute, 



