92 THE ANNELIDA POLYCHAETA. 



Schlesch. gesellsch., 1876, 53, p. 72). If a valid genus it would in such case 

 probably belong in the Sigalionidae. The name of the present family would 

 accordingly have to be changed to Pelogeniidae. 



Palmyridae. 



Probably near the Aphroditoidea are to be placed the two famiUes Palmy- 

 ridae and Chrysopetalidae, neither of which is represented in the present col- 

 lection. Their genera as at present known may be separated by means of the 

 following keys. 



Key to Genera. 



a. Notocirri on somites I, II, III, IV, V and then on alternate somites to the end of body; basal 



portion of paleae short and straight; borders of palae smooth and rounded. . Palmrjropsis Potts. 



aa. Notocirri on somites I, II (?), Ill, VI, and thereafter on alternate somites to near end of body; 



basal portion of paleae long; borders serrate Palmyra Savigny. 



The anneUd listed by Mcintosh in the Challenger report as Palmyra 

 aurifera Savigny and on which he found small elytra, is not that species but 

 apparently is a true aphroditid near Pontogenia. 



Chrysopetalidae. 



Key to Genera. 



a. Body short, somites few. 



h. Paleae covering the dorsum in large part. 



c. Some of the paleae broad, others narrow Paleanotus Schmarda. 



. cc. Paleae equal Chrysopetalum Ehlers. 



bb. Paleae narrow, leaving most of the dorsum bare Dysponetus Levinsen. 



aa. Body elongate, somites numerous Bhawania Schmarda. 



Heteropale Johnson is a synonym of Paleanotus Schmarda. 



Nepthydidae. 



The body is elongate and composed of numerous somites. In cross-section 

 somewhat tetragonal but with the dorsum convex and the venter typically 

 flattened. Usually pale, pearl-gray with iridescence, only rarely well pigmented. 

 Varying in size from one or two centimeters to twenty-five centimeters. Somites 

 mostly less than one hundred and fifty. 



The prostomium is flattened and commonly subrhomboidal in outline as 



