308 Miscellaneous. 



genus established by Malragren for sonie Syllidians from Spitzhor- 

 gen. I have since been able to examine several individuals of the 

 species, and I have constantly recognized the existence of a lamel- 

 lar first ventral cirrus, which ae(|uire8 a great development and 

 contrasts •with the homologous organs of the following segments. 

 The hooks of the composite seta? are all very long and of a ])eculiar 

 form. 1 am now able to appreciate better these diflerential charac- 

 ters, as I have before me other specimens of Eksi/IUs very distinct 

 from the former, and which cannot be separated from Eusyllis moni- 

 licornxs, Malmg. ; these come from the deep coralligenous regions. 



These Annelides attain a length of 10 millims., and possess 50 seti- 

 gerous segments. The cephalic lobe is deeply set in the buccal ring, 

 which advances above it, forming a small dorsal gibbosity. We observe 

 two pairs of principal eye-spots, anda supplementary pair of small eyes 

 placed at the base of the outer antenna). All the appendages are 

 irregularly articulated ; the first dorsal cirrus attains a consider- 

 able length, and is often rolled up in the manner of the organs of 

 Autohjtus. The two palpi are greatly developed, and soldered to- 

 gether at their base. The pedal maraillae are all very prominent, 

 and bear pinniform ventral cirri. The ventral cirrus of the first 

 segment, however, is always smaller than those of the following 

 segments, whilst we find a contrary arrangement in Eusyllis lamel- 

 ligera. The trunk occupies the first five zoonites; the denticles with 

 which its aperture is armed seem to be much larger than those of 

 Eiisi/Uis lamellifjera. The proventriculus is succeeded by a colour- 

 less region furnished with T-shaped glands ; and the intestine pre- 

 sents no very deep constrictions. 



All these characters agree with ^Malmgren's figures and descrip- 

 tion. Each foot is supported by a strong hooked acicula. The 

 composite setae bear rather short bidentatc hooks, identical with 

 those of Exsyllis moniJiconiis from Spitzbergen ; but in the midst of 

 them I find a slender recurved stem, terminated by two little points. 

 This organ exists in all the feet ; it is quite independent of the 

 dorsal filiform set« which appear at the time of sexual maturity. 



From these observations it appears that the genus Ensi/llis is re- 

 presented on the shores of the ^lediterranean by two very distinct 

 forms. One is perhaps peculiar to the Mediterranean ; it has not 

 yet been indicated in any other sea. The other, on the contrary, 

 belongs to a type which is diff"used even into the Arctic regions. 

 It is evident that it only requires careful investigation to increase 

 the number of species common to the Mediterranean and the ocean. 

 I have ascertained that the Hermella: of the shores of Provence do 

 not differ from those of the English Channel and of the Scandina- 

 vian coasts ; and the Psamafhe cin-ata of Saint-Vaast exists in the 

 coralligenous gravels of Montredon. "NVe cannot, therefore, over- 

 leok the bonds which unite the Mediterranean and oceanic faunas, 

 although the autonomy of these faunas is nevertheless indisputable. 

 — Comptes Rendus, February 22, 1875, p. 498. 



