79 
The question arises, How far is the condition of the gills a specific 
character: do they increase in their extent of distribution along 
the body, and in complexity of structure, with age ? 
It appears that in this case, if I am right in my identification, the 
size of the worm is not a factor, for the individual described by Mc- 
Intosh was 105 mm. in length, while the present worms do not exceed 
74 mm. 
It is only in recent years that zoologists have paid any atten- 
tion to the matter. Thus, Crossland,* in discussing the variability 
of characters, usually regarded as being of specific value, says of 
Marphysa mossambica, “The gills begin on different segments in 
different specimens, increase in size and complexity quite irregularly, 
and vary in the maximum number of filaments they bear.” This 
opinion agrees with that at which I have arrived as a result of the 
studying of our native polychetes. And it appears that McIntosh + 
himself is more inclined to lay stress on this anatomical feature 
than formerly, for, in speaking of a species of Onuphis from the Gulf 
of St. Lawrence, he says that it “may be O. holobranchiata Maren- 
zeller; appears to approach O. grube: Marenzeller, a form which 
comes near Nothria tenuisetis, especially in the structure of the 
bristles, though there are certain differences, such as the origin of 
the branchie.”’ 
I may mention that in O. holobranchiata the gills commence on the 
first foot and remain single throughout the body. The species, too, 
has quite a different tube. 
LuMBRICONEREIS (Blainville), Grube, 1851. 
Lumbriconereis sphzrocephala Schmarda. 
Lumbriconereis spherocephala Schmarda, Neue Wirbell. Thiere, i (11), 
1861, p. 116; Ehlers, Neuseel. Annel., 1904, p. 33, pl. v, figs. 3-11. 
Stations 12, 14. 
This is pretty common in muddy shores round the coast of New 
Zealand, and has been obtained from the Chatham Islands. 
Localities —Molyneux Bay, 20-46 fathoms, sand; off Otago 
Peninsula, 25-27 fathoms, pebbles. : 
Family GLYCERIDA. 
GLYcERA, Savigny, 1820. 
Glycera ovigera Schmarda. 
Glycera ovigera Schmarda, Neue Wirbell. Thiere, 1 (ii), 1861, p. 295, 
pl. xxx, fig. 239; Ehlers, Neuseel. Annel., 1904, p. 37. 
* Crossland, P.Z.S., 1903, ii, p. 120. 
+ McIntosh, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), xii, 1903, p. 152. 
