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VI. Littoral Polycliceta from the Ccqoe of Good Hope. By Arthur Willey, D.Sc, 

 F.JR.S., ColomJjo Iliisemn, Ceylon. {Communicated by Dr. W. G. Kidewood, 

 F.L.S.) 



(Plates 13 & 14.) 



Eead 3rd December, 190.3. 



1 HE Annelids here described were collected by Mr. W. F. Purcell in the years 1896 

 and 1900, with the co-operation of Messrs. G. H. Glasson and R. M. Lightfoot. The 

 collection was sent, by arrangement, from the South African Museum to the British 

 (Natural History) Museum, and intrusted to me for examination. Most of the specimens 

 were preserved in an alcoholic solution of corrosive sublimate, and, in many cases, care 

 had been taken to procure the extrusion of the proboscides, which is a matter of 

 importance in the systematic study of errant Annelids. 



There is a pronounced Mediterranean and Northern element in the Annelid fauna of 

 the Cape, a feature which has already been noted by Dr. von Marenzeller *, and, indeed, 

 it would appear that the geographical distribution of marine Annelids is primarily 

 determined by thermal considerations. Many species are eurytheniial, and hence 

 cosmopolitan or pan-oceanic ; where tliis is not the case, we frequently meet with 

 instances of discontinuous distribution, the areas of distribution being separated by 

 thermal barriers. The only terrestrial barriers of first importance are the Isthmus of Suez 

 and the Isthmus of Panama, and that these have not always prevented tlie inter-oceanic 

 exchange of types is clear from the fact that the Annelid fauna of the Indo-Pacific 

 region may be said to be composed of an assemblage of endemic, Caribbean, and 

 Mediterranean constituents. 



The following are the species dealt with in this paper : — 



1. Euphrosyne capensis, Kinberg. 



2. Lepidonotus clava semitcctits, Stimpson. 



3. Pulynue scolopendrhia, Saviguy. 



4. Hemilepidia enjthrotcenia, Schmarda. 



5. Parmenis capensis, sp. n. 



6. Sthertelais fuUyiuosa capensis, Cla|)aredc. 



7. Eulalia capensis, Schmarda. 



8. P/iyllodoce sp. ? 



9. Glycera cvnrohita africunu, Iveferstein. 



10. Neanthes lutipalpa, Schmarda. 



11. • capensis, sp. n. 



12. Mastiyonereis operta (Stimpsou). 



13. Perinereis viendux (Stimpson) . 



14. Plat ynereis striata (Schmarda). 



15. Eriphyle capensis, Kiubcrg. 



16. Marphysa saiiyiiinea luemasoma (Montagu). 



17. capensis (Schmarda). 



18. Purcellana, sp. n. 



I'J. Lysidire capensis, Grube. 



20. Muclovia iricolor capensis (Montagu). 



21. Lumbriconereis coccinea, Renier. 



— nardonis, Grube. 



— capensis, Grube. 



22 

 23 

 24 



25 

 2G, 



Cirratidus atrocolluris, Grube. 



tentaculatus meridionalis (Montagu). 



capensis, Sclimarda. 



7. FlalicUiyera liictator, Stimpson. 

 28. Lipobranclius capensis, sp. n. 



* Marenzeller, E. von, " rolychiiten der Angra requena-Bucht,"' Zool. Jabrb. Syst. Bd. iii. pp. 1-24 (1888). 

 SECOND SERIES. — ZOOLOGY, VOL. IX. 35 



