THE AMPHIPODA. 3l 



Fatn. V I B I L 1 1 D .E. 



This family is still content with a single genus. 



ViBiLiA, Milne-Edwards, 1830. 

 The species assigned to this genus are now rather numerous, but the material in tlie 

 present collection is too small to justify a full discussion. The recent additions are 

 V. erratica, Chevreux, 1892 ; V. Boi-alUi, Bonnier, 1896 ; V. hiroudellel, clentata, 

 and grandicornis, described by Chevreux in 1900 ; and V. cultripes by Vosseler in 

 1901. 



14. ViBILIA ARM ATA, BovalliuS. 



1887. Vihilia armata, Bovallius, Bihanp; t. K. Svenska Vet.-Akad. Handl. Brl. xi. No. 16, p. 10. 



1887. Vibilia armata, Bovallius, K. Svenska Vet.-Akad. Handlingar, Bd. xxi. No. 5, p. 69, pi. 10. 



figs. 15-22. 

 1901. Vihilia armata, Vosseler, Amphipoden der Plankton-Expedition, p. 125. 



This species belongs to a group in which the postero-lateral angles of the sixth pleon- 

 segment are produced backward so as partially to overlap the peduncles of the third 

 uropods. Within that group it is distinguished by the second gnathopods, which have 

 the anterior apex of the sixth joint acutely produced. 



The head is very obtusely rostrate. The fifth and sixth segments of the pleon are 

 coalesced. The eyes are large, dark, broader above than below. Tiie fii'st antennae are 

 rather sharply tapering. The dissected specimen differed from that described by 

 BovalHus in having six spines instead of only three along the convex margin of the hand 

 in the first gnathopods. The eggs numbered about a hundred. 



Length, including the first antennae, about 8"75 mm. 



By this capture the known distribution of the species is extended considerably 

 northward. 



Occurrence : 31 b. 50 to fathoms. 2 specimens. 



15. Vibilia propinqua, Stebbing. 



1888. Vibilia propimpia, Stebbing, ' CballcDgcr ' Ampbipoda, Reports, vol. xxi.v. p. 1279, pi. It7. 

 1901. Vibilia p)-opiiiqufi, Vosseler, Ampbipoden der Plankton-Expedition, p. 121. 



The specimen closely agrees with the description given in the ' Challenger ' Report, 

 except that the apex of the telson is obliquely truncate, whicli must be an accidental 

 deformity. Dr. Vosseler, who had several specimens at command, found that the 

 rostrum was variable, being sometimes obsolete even in large specimens. He speaks of 

 it as very near to V. Jeaitgerardii, Lucas, and V. vkdrix, Bovallius. From the latter of 

 these it is distinguished by having the fifth and sixth segments of the pleon coalesced, 

 and from the former by a very differently shaped telson. In the first gnathopods of 

 V. propinqiia the si.xth joint has no such rounded projecting apex of the hind margiu 



