TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. 697 



the peristomium usually carries special cirri. The parapodia are well-developed 

 lobes, supported by stroug acicula. The chretse are jointed (gomphotrichs) or un- 

 jointed (bolotrichs) ; no uncini occur. A pharynx exists, which frequently is armed 

 with jaws. There are other characters drawn from internal organs. 



Sub-order 2. Scoleciformia includes the four families — Opheliidm, Arenicolidce, 

 Scalihreymidiv, and Maidanid(i>. 



The prostoniium does not carry tentacles or palps, the peristomium is without 

 special cirri. The parapodia are biit feebly developed knobs or ridges, and are not 

 supported by acicula. The chtetaj are holotrichs. Sensory processes feebly deve- 

 loped or absent. Internally the most marked feature is the diminution in 

 number of the nephridia connected with the incomplete character of the septa. 

 There are no jaws, though the anterior end of the gut may be eversible. 



Sub-order '.'>. Terebellifonnia (Families. — Cirratulida, Chhrhannidcp, 8terna- 

 spidcB, Tenbellida:, &c.).— The prostoniium carries tentacular appendages (the 

 branchial processes of Chlorhcemida:). The acbretous peristomium may carry fila- 

 mentous processes. Parapodia, mere ridges or knobs ; no acicula ; chtetse are 

 holotrichs and uncini. IJorsal cirri may be present on a few of the anterior 

 segments, and they function as gills. Buccal region not eversible. Internally 

 the nephridia present a dimorphism, accompanied in many cases by reduction in 

 number. 



Sub-order 4. CapiteUiformia includes the family Capttellida. 



The second grade, Cri/pfocep/ia!a, is divided into two sub-orders : — 



Sub-order 1. Spioni'fonnia (Families — Spionidce, Magelonidce, Chcetopteridce, 

 Ammocharidce) retains the prostomium as a small lobe, without definite tentacles 

 or palps, but the peristomium is relatively large, and extends forwards on either side 

 of the prostomium ; this segment usually carries very long flexible tentacles. The 

 parapodia are only feebly developed and incomplete ; no acicula ; the chsetse holo- 

 trichs ; uncini may occur. Dorsal cirri, if preseut, become branchial organs. Buccal 

 region eversible, but without jaws. Nephridia but imperfectly known. 



Sub-order 2. Sahelliformia [Sabellidce, Erknjraplddcc, Serpulidrp. Hermellidce). 

 The prostomium is in most cases entirely concealed by the great development of 

 the peristomium, and may be reduced to mere sensory knobs. But the palps are 

 very greatly developed and function as gills. Parapodia only slightly projecting, 

 or mere ridges; chfetfe holotrichs and uncini. Dorsal cirri, if present, are 

 branchial, or modified to form a thoracic membrane. Nephridia dimorphic — the 

 anterior pair large, opening by a median dorsal pore on the first segment. The 

 remainder act as genital ducts. 



3. On Museum Preparations. By E. S. Goodrich. 



4. On Random Publishing and Rules of Priority. 

 By Thomas R. R. Stebbing, M.A. 



Modern zoology is a study of continually extending scope. The literature is 

 vast, costly, and polyglot. The channels of publication are so innumerable that 

 naturalists can scarcely tell which way to turn. In books, in magazines, in 

 reports of learned societies, the information required by one set of students is 

 often so combined with that required by several other sets that the expense of 

 obtaining it becomes prohibitory. The proposal is hazarded that the leading 

 societies should set an example by arranging among themselves for a division of 

 labour, in the hope that by degrees scientific workers might be induced to issue 

 their new discoveries from a few well-recognised centres, instead of insisting on 

 the present liberty of ubiquitous publication. A Committee of the British Associa- 

 tion, it is suggested, might usefully undertake a preliminary consideration of what 

 is possible or expedient in this respect ; and, while ventUating the larger subject, 

 might also propose a settlement of some debated questions of zoological nomencla- 

 ture. A special proposal put forward is, that for every country there shall be a 

 single authorised journal to receive the names of new genera and species, with 



