460 ANNELIDES. 



Several species are found in the Mecliterranean(l). 



Ophelina. Sav. 



The body thick and short, with feebly marked rings and scarcely 

 visible setae: long cirri in lieu of branchiae on two thirds of its 

 length; palate of the mouth with a dentated crest; the lips surround- 

 ed with tentacula, of which the two superior are the largest(2). 



CiRRiiATULus, Lam. 



The branchiae consisting of a very long filament; two small bundles 

 of setae to each of the articulations of the body, which are numerous 

 and compact; a series of long filaments round the nape. The slightly 

 marked head has neither tentacula nor jaws(3). 



Palmyra, Sav. 



The Palmyrae are recognized by their superior fasciculi, the setae of 

 which are large, flattened, flabclliform, and glisten like highly po- 

 lished gold; their inferior fasciculi are small; their cirri and bra"n- 

 chiae feebly marked. They have an elongated body, two extended 

 tentacula, and three very small ones. 



Palm, aurifera, Sav. The only species known; it is from one 

 to two inches in length, and is found at the isle of France. 



Aphrodita, Lin. 



This genus is easily known by the ttvo longitudinal ranges of broad 

 membranous scales that cover the back, to which, through a very 

 groundless assimilation, the name of elytra has been given, and 

 under which, their branchiae, in the form of fleshy crests, are con- 

 cealed. 



Their body is usually flattened, and shorter and broader than in 

 the other Annelides. Their extremely thick and muscular esopha- 

 gus is susceptible of being protruded like a proboscis; their intestine 

 is unequal, and furnished on each side with numerous branched 

 caeca, the extremities of which are fixed between the bases of the 



(1) Hesione splendida, Sav., Eg-., Annel., pi. iii, f. 3; — H. f estiva, Id., lb., p. 41; 

 — H. pantherina, Risso, Eur. Merid., IV, p. 418. 



(2) This is probably the place for the Nereis prismatica, a.n dbifrons, Fabr., Soc. 

 Hist. Nat. Copen. V, parti, pi. iv, p. 1~ — 23. 



(3) Lumbricus cirrhatus,Ott., Fabr., Faun. Groenl., f. 5, from which the Tere- 

 bella tentaculata, Montag., Lin. Trans., IX, and the Cirrkinere Jiligere, Blaiiiv., 

 pi., of the Diet, des So. Nat, N, do not appear to differ as to the genus; — Cirrh. 

 Lamarkii, Aud., and Edw., Litt., de la Fr., Annel., pi. vii, f 1 — 4. 



