208 BRITISH PARASITIC COPEPODA. 



nearly a right angle to the dorsum, so that the animal 

 appears to be very short and dilated when viewed 

 from above. Genital segment considerably enlarged 

 and furnished with two pairs of appendages ; one 

 pair moderately short prolongations of the postero- 

 lateral corners of the segment, the other pair tolerably 

 elongated, springing from the ventral surface in front 

 of the egg-strings, extending backward, curving round, 

 and partly inclosing them. 



Antennules stout and composed of three joints ; 

 the mandibles and maxillee, as well as the second pair 

 of antennae, somewhat similar to those of Bracliiella 

 insidiosa ; the first maxillipeds, however, scarcely so 

 robust, but furnished with more powerful terminal 

 claws. The second maxillipeds very short and 

 enclosed together within a gelatinous envelope : 

 though thus enclosed, not coalesces t, but may be seen 

 through the semi-transparent envelope extending 

 alongside each other to where at the apex they are 

 united to a hard chitinous plug. Length about 8 mm. 



Male. We have not observed the male of this 

 species, but Dr. Bassett-Smith describes it and states 

 that the cephalothorax is large, and distinct from 

 the posterior portion of the body, this portion being 

 divided into five indistinct segments, and furnished at 

 the posterior end with a pair of short two-jointed 

 processes with pointed ends. The two pairs of an- 

 tennse, and the various other thoracic appendages, 

 apparently similar to those of the male of Bracliiella 

 insidiosa. 



Habitat. Parasitic on the gill-rakers of the hake 

 (Merluccius vidgaris), and not, like Bracliiella insidiosa y 

 attached to the gill-rays. Plymouth (B as sett- Smith). 

 Firth of Forth and Aberdeen Fish-Market (T. Scott). 



Brachiella merluccii does not appear to be so common as the 

 species just alluded to; and the general structure of the 

 female, and especially the partial union of the second maxilli- 

 peds, show, as pointed out by Dr. Bassett-Smith, a tolerably 

 close relationship with Clavella (Anchorella). 



