[23] ALBATEOSS EXPLORATIONS. 525 



v., which constructs flat, free tubes, about 2 inches long, out of broken 

 bivalves, often occurs in vast numbers in the warm zone. 



A large and conspicuous, smooth, orange-red scaly annelid {Polynoe 

 aurantiaea Y., fig. 173), lives as a commensal among the tentacles oiBolo- 

 etra Tuedice ; and another species of this group (P. Acanellm V., fig. 172, 

 a-c), is very abundant among the branches of Acanella Normani. It has 

 a dark purple proboscis and finely spinulose scales. Numerous small 

 species of many genera have been taken at great depths. 



Several other interesting deep-sea annelids are illustrated on the 

 plates (figs. 172-190). 



GEPHYEEA. 



Several large and remarkable species of Gephyrea have been taken 

 in deep water, but they are not yet determined. Among them there is 

 a large strongly sulcated species (fig. 192), taken in 707 to 1,060 fathoms, 

 which is often 3 to 5 inches long and nearly an inch in diameter, in alcohol. 

 Another equally large species, from 858 to 1,168 fathoms, is covered 

 with large warts or verrucse. Both of these appear to be species of 

 Phascolosoma. There is a large Priapuliis (fig. 191 , a) from 1,000 fathoms, 

 and a small one from 1,060 fathoms. A large Thalassema occurred in 

 1,600 fathoms. 



NEMERTEANS. 



The nemertean worms are not common in deep water, and but few 

 species have been taken in our deep-water dredgings. The largest and 

 most interesting one is a bright orange species, which grows to the 

 length of 10 feet or more, and is about a third of an inch in diameter. 

 It occurred in 192 fathoms, and is identical with Macronemertes gigantea 

 Verrill, originally from the Gulf of Maine. Gerehratulus luridus V. (fig. 

 195) occurred in 64 to 192 fathoms. 



MOLLUSCA. 



The Mollusca were very numerous and proved to be of even greater 

 interest than those previeusly taken by the " Fish Hawk." The num- 

 ber' of species of Mollusca added to the fauna of this region by the "Al- 

 batross" in 1883 was more than 150, of which over 80 were undescribed.* 



Four new forms of Cephalopods were taken, including tw^ new gen- 

 era. One of these, from 2,949 fathoms, is an Octojioa (Eledonella pyg- 

 mcea V.), allied to Medone, but peculiar in having the suckers singu- 

 larly enlarged and altered in form on the hectocotylized arm (fig. 64). 

 Another, from 1,731 fathoms, is a small squid {Leptoteuthis diaphana 

 v., fig. 62), remarkable for its slenderness and transparency and for its 



* Most of these new species are described by tlie writer in the Transactions of the 

 Connecticnt Academy, vol. vi, 1884, with figures. 



