100 APHRODITACEiE. 



the Euniceacece there are never less than seven jaws, and in the Am- 

 phinomenacece there are none. Such also is the case with many of 

 the Nereides y although several genera in this family have two jaws, 

 and a few even four ; but the pairs, unlike those of Aphroditacece, 

 are perfectly distinct and widely separate. 



Synopsis of Genera. 



1 . Aphrodita. Body oval or elliptical : the scales and superior cirri 



not coexistent on the same foot, but alternating : proboscis 

 with rudimentary and cartilaginous jaws or none : antenna one 

 only : palpi two, large : eyes two. 



2. Lepidonotus. Body linear-oblong : the scales exposed and alter- 



nating with the superior cirri : proboscis with corneous jaws : 

 antennae three, unequal : palpi two, large : eyes four. 



3. Polynoe. Body linear-elongate, vermiform : rest like Lepido- 



notus. 



4. Pholoe. Body oblong: the scales placed over every alternate 



foot : cirri none or rudimentary : proboscis with four corneous 

 jaws, the orifice plain : antennae five, unequal, distinct : palpi 

 two, large : eyes two. 



5. Sigalion. Body linear-elongate: the scales and superior cirri 



coexistent on the same feet, the former placed over every alter- 

 nate foot until the 27th segment, whence they follow uninter- 

 ruptedly to the end of the body : proboscis with corneous jaws : 

 antennae rudimentary : palpi large : eyes none * . 



1. APHRODITAf. 



Halithea, Savigny, Syst. Annel. 11 & 18. Lam. An. s. Vert. v. 306. 

 Aphrodita, Leach in Suppl. Encyclop. Brit. i. 452. And. ^ M.-Edw. 



Litt. de la France, ii. 63. Blainville in Diet, des Sc. nat. Ivii. 455. 



Fleming in Encyclop. Brit. edit. 7, xi. 221. Johnston in Ann. Nat. 



Hist. ii. 427. 



Char. Body ovate or oblong, the back convex, covered with fifteen 



* Oersted's synopsis of the family is as follows : — 



1 . Branchiae alternating with the cirri. Genera. 



a. The back with a tomentose covering Aphrodita. 



b. The back without such covering. 



a. Scales 12-15 pairs, entirely covering the back. Lepidonotus. 

 /3. Scales 15-40 pairs, leaving the greater portion 



of the back uncovered Polynoe. 



2. Branchiae not alternating with the cirri. 



(Scales to all the rings ; no superior cirri.) Pholoe. 



t Aphrodite — the Greek name of Venus. In its application to a sea-worm, 

 there may be some allusion to the supposed derivation from d^pbs, * foam of the 

 sea.' Hesiod calls Venus d<ppoyeveia, * foam-spruog.' 



