2G2 I>E. A. WILLEY ON LITTORAL POLCH.llTA 



for normal sette ancl the development of the natatory membranes (ligular lobes) on the 

 parapodia add no useful character to the definition of a particular species. This is 

 a rather curious fact. In an epitokous worm the anterior region of the body retains on 

 the whole its normal specific character, but in the modified posterior region the specific 

 features are concealed below the profusion of secondary natatory appendages of the feet, 

 although the characteristic form of cirri and ligules is retained and caa be recognized 

 bv careful examination below the mask of epitoky. 



An atokous example measured 93 mm. in length, 8 mm. in width (including the feet), 

 and possessed 114 setigerous segments. An epitokous female M^as nearly 140 mm. long. 



Locality. Six atokous specimens taken amongst seaweed off Woodstock beach in 

 August 1896, and seven epitokous specimens from the same locality collected in 

 December 1900. 



13. Peeinereis mendax (Stimpson). (Plate 13. fig. 13 and Plate 14. figs. 3-6.) 



Nereis mendaoe, Stimpson, Proc. Acad. Philad. vii. p. 392 (1855). 



Mastigonereis podociira, Schmarda, 1861, Neue wirbellose Tliiere, ii. p. 108; Marenzeller, 1888, 



Polycliateii der Angra Pequeua-Bucht, p. 7. 

 Ne7-eis Siimpsonis, Grube, 1867, ' Novara •■ Exped., Anneliden, p. 18. Taf. i. fig. 8. 



Kinberg's genus Permereis is determined by the character of the paragnaths of 

 order VI, which occur as one or two linear or broadly conical or arcuate chitinous 

 sclerites on each side of the median group V. I have examined the types of Kinberg's 

 genera of Nereidae by special arrangement between the authorities of the British 

 ]\Iuseiim (Natural History) and the lloyal Museum at Stockholm, and am bound to say 

 that I am not clear as to the distinct generic properties of Perinereis, Para)iereis, 

 and Pseiidouereis *, 



Very numerous examj)les of this species were taken between tide-marks at St. James, 

 Ealse Bay, and two specimens from Woodstock, Table Bay. They are described as 

 living "in holes between the barnacles &c. on the upper sides of rocks exposed at low 

 tide." 



14. Platynereis striata (Schmarda). (Plate 13. fig. 14 and Plate 14. figs. 11 & 12.) 



Platynereis striata (Schmarda), see Kinberg, 1865, " Annulata uova, Nereidum dispositio nova,'"' 

 Ofv. K. Vet.-Akad. F(5rh. 1865, Stockholm, 1866, p. 177. 



The length of the antennae is equal to that of the prostomium. The third pair of 

 tentacular cirri stretch over 10-14 segments. There are about 80 segments in all ; 

 leho-th about 52 mm. ; width without feet 3 mm., with feet 5 mm. 



' The dorsal cirrus is about twice tlie length of the dorsal ligule, and this proportion 

 does tiot appreciably alter through the length of the body. 



The paragnaths have the form of minute granulations characteristic of the genus 

 Platynereis, which has priority over Malmgren's genus Leontis. The groups VII + VIII 



* The Pseudonereis anomala of Gravier (" C'ontributiou a I'etude des Annelides . . . de la Mer rouge," Arch. Mus. 

 Paris, (8) xi. 1900, pi. xii. tigs. 50-.52) is not a Pseudonereis iu Kinberg's sense. I have seen specimens of it from 

 Karachi, and think it is worthy of subgeneric rank at least, unless it be regarded as a Nereis s. str. 



