POLYCH^TA-^BENHAM. 11 



" During the summer cruise, Mr. J. G. Hunter, assisted by Mr. H. Hamilton, 

 a number of dredgings were taken in deeper waters, the ' Aurora ' lieing specially fitted 

 for this purpose." 



In addition, some tow-netting was done in the bay. 



The list of stations and the details of the hauls follow. A total of forty-seven 

 species were obtained at these stations, the majority of which, as would be expected, 

 are already known : but I have found it necessary to establish two new species of 

 Phyllodocids of the ,sub-genus Pterocirrus, namely, E id alia {Pterocirms) hunteri and 

 Eulalia {Pterocirrus) mdeani : as well as a new species of Exogone, and of Scdoflos, 

 and a new variety of Aricia marginata, in which the arrangement of the spines in 

 the anterior segments presents a condition recalling that occurring in A. ohlini Ehlers. 



Further, a new species of the Ampharetid Phyllocomus, hitherto represented 

 only by P. crocea C4rube, exhibits a form of gill unique in the family. While a new 

 genus in the same family seems needed for a species which possesses an entirely novel 

 kind of tentacular apparatus in the form of a folded and introversible membrane in 

 place of the usual filamentous tentacles. I have named this worm Aintjthas mem- 

 bratiifera. 



The collection is also of interest in that it contains as many as three specimens 

 of the rare Nereis loxechini Kinberg, of which only three individuals have hitherto 

 been recorded. 



Tomopteris carpenteri Quatrefages, so long umecognised, is also represented, 

 and is fully described ; and a northern species, T. septentrionalis Quatrefages, is included 

 in the collection. Certain other species hitherto found only outside the Antarctic 

 region must now be included in that fauna, namely, Eulmjisca corrientis Mcintosh, 

 and Ennoa abyssorum Mcintosh. 



In the total number of species submitted to me, and therefore presumably 

 collected l)y the '' Aurora," the present compares favourably with the number 

 taken bv previous expeditions, other than the "Gauss," which was an extremely rich 

 collection. 



One cannot help being struck with the enormous quantity of some of the species 

 living at the sea-bottom in these cold seas. Thus in this collection I find in a single 

 haul more than 100 individuals of TJielepus antarcticus ; again, sixty- five individuals 

 of Harmothoe spinosa were obtained at one haul; and of Potamilla antarctica as many 

 as forty were brought up in the dredge at one spot. 



This abundance of individuals may be due in part to the scarcity of enemies 

 and m part to the fact that the conditions, although so apparently severe, must in 

 reality be very favourable for theu' existence. 



