PIXELL—POLYCH ATA OF THE INDIAN OCEAN 81 
Hulule, Male, and two (one incomplete) from Mamaduwari, 8. Mahlos, Maldive Islands. 
These are about double the size of the Zanzibar and Red Sea specimens: one contracted 
specimen is nearly 100mm. long with maximum abdominal width of 9 mm., another 
expanded specimen is 116mm. long and only 6—7 mm. wide. 
The tubes in most cases are completely covered with coral; there is the usual blue 
colour on the inside round the aperture, which is overhung by the characteristic pointed 
process. 
The branchize, forming a spiral of four or five turns on each side, are generally 
“white or yellow at their bases, but of a brilliant crimson or other shade of red towards 
their distal ends.” The massive pedicle of the operculum arises on the left side just dorsal 
to the branchiz and has a “greenish colour.” The collar, also “brightly coloured, 
wrapped over the edge of the tube when the worm was extended.” 
In every case the ventral lobe of the collar is produced at the side interior to the 
lateral lobe into a process which is sometimes more or less fimbriated, and suggests the 
languet of Pomatoceros. I have not seen this condition described before for the genus 
Spirobranchus, but it seems to be of constant occurrence. Considerable variation was 
found among the abdominal sets; two of the commonest forms are shown in figs. 6,d 
and e. There is nothing else, I think, to add to the detailed description given by Ehlers. 
Most of the specimens agree rather with those of Gravier from the Red Sea in having the 
processes on the operculum shorter than in Ehlers’ and Schmarda’s figures. The opercular 
plate is in every case distinctly elongated dorso-ventrally and is broader ventrally. 
11. Spirobranchus guganteus, var. turbinatus nov. 
Locality. Hulule, Male Atoll. 
This beautifully preserved specimen resembles the above as to set, operculum, &c., 
but has rather fewer branchize with longer free extremities and the ample collar 
enormously developed on the right dorsal side and rolled up like a scroll. In size it 
resembles the other specimens from the Maldive Archipelago. 
12. Spirobranchus gardineri, n. sp. (Plate 8, fig. 7). 
Specific characteristics: 1. Opercular plate nearly circular with one very long process 
arising from near its centre—the process being trifid near its distal extremity only 
(fig. 7a). 2. Thoracic uncini very large and a somewhat different shape from the 
abdominal ones (figs. 7c, d, e). 
Three specimens from Providence Reef (N. of Madagascar) collected by Professor 
Stanley Gardiner. 
The three specimens are almost exactly the same size, and in each the posterior part 
of the abdomen is cut off. In only one case is the latter region present ; it belongs to a 
specimen which gives the following measurements : Pedicle of operculum, proximal region 
4mm. long and 2mm. broad—this is attached almost exactly in the middle of the dorsal 
surface between the two sides of the branchial crown. The more flattened distal part of 
the pedicle is 13 mm. long, and with its narrow wings measures 5 mm. in width. 
The opercular plate narrows slightly towards its point of attachment to the pedicle, 
ze. towards the dorsal side. It has a bright orange-coloured edge in spirit specimens ; 
SECOND SERIES—ZOOLOGY, VOL. XVI. ul 
