SERPULIDAE 211 



however, very variable in form, and only one specimen shows the three rings described 

 by Gravier. In two examples the operculum is more like that of V. infitndibidum than 

 that of V. glandigerus . In fact, in the light of the great variability of the operculum, 

 the two species are very hard to separate. The largest specimen measures 30 mm. by 

 3 mm. across the thorax. The thoracic membrane is fused with the thorax only as far 



• mm 



0^ 



a 



T ■Imm. 



O 



4nnm 



O^ 



Fig. 88. Vermiliopsis glandigerus. 

 a. Opercula. b. Abdominal bristle, c. Portion of a tube. 



as the 5th chaetiger. The abdominal bristles (Fig. 88, b) are closer to that figured by 



Gravier (text-fig. 481) than to that figured by Fauvel (1927, p. 364, fig. 124/) for 



V. infimdibidtim . I have only a fragment of a tube (Fig. 88, c), and this shows successive 



funnel-like ridges formed by the growth of successive peristomes. I have figured a 



number of opercula to show the variation. 



I think it probable that V. glandigerus, Gravier, V. acanthophora, Augener, and 



V. langerhansi, Fauvel, will all prove to be simple varieties of V. infundibuhim. 



27-2 



