220 BUSH 



primarily on characters readily seen with the aid of a good pocket lens. 



In instances, however, where the operculum has been lost other 

 characters become most important, so that owing to the very small size 

 of many of the animals higher powers are required. 



Many forms which have simple tapered setas in the collar fascicle 

 are found to possess uncini and abdominal setae which differ decidedly 

 in form, so that many of the genera are based on these two characters. 

 This is especially true of species hitherto referred to the genus Ver- 

 viilia Lamarck 1818. As no figures appear to have been published of 

 the setae and uncini of the type species ( Vermilia triquetra Lamarck), 

 the only known character by which the genus is distinguished is the 

 operculum with a calcareous plate, which was figured by Philippi in 

 1844. Langerhans in 1880, however, described and figured a species 

 identified as 'Verjnilia polytrema Philippi, which has not only the cal- 

 careous plate on the operculum but also two basal horny or chitinous 

 spine-like processes, not unlike the figure given by Philippi 1844. 

 The uncini have rather numerous long sharp teeth, the lowest much 

 larger than the others and notched in the end, giving a bifid appear- 

 ance ; the abdominal setae are trumpet-shaped, with a long slender end. 

 The Vermilia niffropileata Ehlers 1901 has similar uncini, but the 

 operculum is described as having a black horn-colored end without 

 calcareous deposit. The Spirobranchus occidentalis Mcintosh has a 

 similar black horny cap on the operculum and similar uncini. Several 

 species from Bermuda with a similar operculum are often found with 

 the horny end covered by a thin layer of calcareous deposit which can 

 be readily cleaned off. It is not improbable that the same condition 

 existed in Lamarck's and Philippi's species and has been overlooked. 

 " Operculum testaceujn orbiculatum, simplex," was interpreted by 

 Philippi as ' calcareus operculum.' The Bermuda species, however, 

 as well as those described and figured by Marenzeller 1S93 and Moore 

 1904 have uncini and abdominal setffi very unlike those given by Lan- 

 gerhans, Mcintosh, and Ehlers, and also differ from each other. Ver- 

 milia muliivaricosa (Morch 1S63) Marenzeller 1S93, having the ab- 

 dominal setae strongly geniculate with, broad angular tapered blades, 

 was made the type of the genus Vermiliopsis by Saint-Joseph 1894. 

 The figures of Vermilia infiindibulum Claparede 1870 and those of 

 Vermilia spirorbis Langerhans 1883 do not appear to agree very 

 closely with this species, although Marenzeller made them synonymous. 

 Vermilia multicristata (Philippi 1844) Marenzeller 1S93, having 

 but slightly bent, narrower, regularly tapered abdominal seta?, as well 

 as different uncini, is here referred to the new genus Metavermilia^ as 



