Leodicidcc from Fiji and Samoa. 133 



very low magnification the mandible is an intense white and, as in the case of L. caribaa 

 (Treadwell, 1921, p. 49), when protruded from the mouth, forms an easily recognized 

 diagnostic character of the species. Under higher magnification the center shows dark, 



Leodice viridis belongs to the group of the Leodicidse of which L. siciliensis is a 

 representative species, all distinguished by the small development of the gills, the 

 peculiar jaw apparatus and in most species by the formation of an epitokous posterior 

 end possibly in all cases connected with a swarming. Swarming has actually been 

 seen only in L. viridis and L. dubia (Woodworth, 1907), but it seems possible that it 

 occurs in the other species as well. (See Treadwell, 1921, p. 47). The only other 

 known case of swarming among the Tveodicidse is that of L. fucata, which occurs gener- 

 ally in the West Indian region, where it has been reported on by Mayor (1902) and by 

 Treadwell (1921a, p. 43-47, pi. 4, figs. 5 to 10, text-figs. 127 to 135). L. fucata is not, 

 however, a member of the siciliensis group. 



As my collecting was done some months earlier than the swarming period, I was 

 unable to make any observations on this phenomenon and can add nothing to the 

 literature, which is well summarized by Woodworth (1907). In collecting at the 

 spring tides of April, May, and Jime successively^, where low water made it possible to 

 get near the outer edges of the reefs, I found indications of a gradual change toward the 

 epitokous condition in the change of color due to the developing sex products, but 

 these changes were comparatively slight. Dr. Mayor very kindly collected the species 

 in July and reported that there was little change in color from the June condition. 



My collections were all made on the reefs in and near Pago Pago Harbor in Tutuila, 

 Samoa. The animals were to be found in rocks at all distances from the shore, but 

 were larger and evidently more mature the farther from shore they were collected, 

 my largest specimens being obtained at as near the edge of the reef as it was possible 

 to go. This led to the suggestion (Treadwell, 1921, pp. 199, 200) that the rate of 

 development may depend on the enviroimient and that those living near shore find 

 the conditions so unfavorable that they grow very slowly and possibly never mature. 

 In all respects except size, these resemble those from farther out, so that there is no 

 question as to the identity of species. I made careful studies of those localities 

 where both the native Samoans and residents at the U. S. Naval Station told me the 

 swarm is most numerous in October and November, but found no place where they are 

 as abundant in the rocks as they should be to supply the enormous number of epitokous 

 ends which appear at the swarming. It seems to me probable that the largest indi- 

 viduals and the greatest numl^er of individuals are to be looked for on the edges of 

 the reefs, where, on account of the surf, I was unable to collect. 



Leodice viridis var. vemalis, new variety. 

 Plate 1, figures 8-11, 



A considerable number of a small Leodice were collected in Suva Harbor, Fiji. 

 Many were in the epitokous condition, with bright green eggs in the posterior part 

 of the body. These belong to the siciliensis group and I at first took them for the 

 Palolo, though puzzled bj' their sexual condition. As this was in April, and the first 

 swarming would be in October, the mature condition of the eggs was hard to under- 

 stand, Tater the true Palolo was collected in Samoa, but it was not until a more 

 careful examination of my collections was made after my return from the expedition 

 that I detected the differences between the species and the variety. (In my report, 

 (19216, pp. 199, 200) I erroneously confused the two.) The variety does not appear 

 in my Samoan collections, but as I was intent on collecting the largest individuals, 

 I may have passed it over on the assumption that it was the young of the true Palolo. 

 I do not, however, think that it occurs in Samoa, as if it had been there and as fully 

 mature as were the Fijian forms I could hardly have failed to notice it. 



The living animal has at the anterior end an intense greenish-brown color with 

 much iridescence which is continued with a gradual diminution in intensity to the 



