32 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 



'A. Branchiostoma belcheri. 



Amphioxus belcheri, dray, P.Z.S. 1^47, p. 35. 

 Branchiostoma belcheri, Gray, Chondropt. p. 150. 



Myocommas 37 + 14+13=64 (Borneo). 



;57 -j- 14 + 1 4 = 05 (Prince of "Wales IsL). 



This Lancelet is very similar to, but rather more elongate tban, 

 /;. lanceokUum, and the "fins, instead of being dilated behind, gradually 

 decrease in width towards the extremity of the tail. 



The specimens were collected partly by Sir E. Belcher during the 

 cruise of 11. -M.S. 'Samarang' on the coast of Borneo, partly by 

 Dr. Coppinger at Prince of Wales Island, Torres Straits. 



4. Branchiostoma caribaeurn. 

 Sundevall, I. c. 1853, p. 12. 



Myocommas 37 + 14 + 9 = 60 (Sundevall). 

 37+14 + 9 = 60. 

 37 + 13+9=59. 



Distinguished from B. belcheri and lanceolatum by the shortness 

 of its tail and by the attenuated form of the extremities of the body. 



St . Thomas ; Rio de Janeiro ; mouth of the Plate river. 



I am indebted for specimens of this species to the kindness of 

 Prof. Ed. Van Beneden, who obtained them in great numbers 

 in the Bay of Botafogo ; they arc the same species on which Moreau 

 made his researches on the structure of the notochord (Bull. Ac. 

 Boy. Belg. 1875, p. 312). The name of Amjjhioxus miilleri (Kroyer, 

 MS.) was adopted for them : but, as this has never been described, 

 it is doubtful wdiether the name was intended for this or some 

 other species. 



5. Branchiostoma lanceolatum (Pall.). 



Myocommas 35 + 12+12=59 (Polperro). 



36 + 14 + 11 = 61 (Scandin., Sundevall). 

 34 + 13 + 13=60 (Naples). 

 35+12+13=00 (Naples)*. 



Coasts of Europe ; Atlantic coasts of North America. 



6. Branchiostoma cultellum. 

 Epigonichthys cultellus, Peters, Perl. MB. 1876, p. 327 (c. fig.). 



Myocommas 32 + 10 + 10 = 52, or 

 31 + 11 + 10=52. 



Anterior part of the dorsal fin high ; fin between branchial porus 



* I take tin- opportunity of correcting an prior on p. 63 of 'Study of 



Fishes,' where in fig. 28 the letters b and c have inadvertently been reversed. 



