470 MB. A. E. SHIPLEY OUT GEPHTREAN WORMS [June 7, 



times but ^ as long as the ventral. They arise some distance in front 

 of the ventral i-etractors. The ova are spherical. 



This species is found fairly coinmou under the throwu-up 

 masses of coral-rock close to the edge of the reef. 



3. SiPUNCULUs FUNAFUTI, 11. sp. (Plate XXXVII. figs. 4 & 5.) 



Numerous specimens from runafuti. ^ji^ 



These forms are from 5-8 cm. long, and 5 6m. broad; they taper 

 at the posterior end into a sharp tail (fig. 4). All the specimens 

 were limp and flabby when plai-ed in my hands, liut when immersed 

 in water th^-y became plump and regained their form. They are 

 silvery white in colour and rather transparent. With one excep- 

 tion (fig. 4) the intro\ert is retracted, but this exception shows the 

 circle of tentacles surrounding the mouth. The cuticle in many 

 cases is separate from the skin, which bears scattered papillae 

 (fig. 5). The number of longitudinal muscles is 14 or 15 and there 

 are few anastomoses. The two ventral retractors arise from two 

 longitudinal muscles some way behind the two dorsal retractors, 

 each of which has its origin in a single muscle. There are no 

 hooks in the introvert, but the papillse tend to range themselves in 

 circular rows near the mouth. The intestine has few coils, 8-12, 

 and is free but for the spindle-muscle attached to the tip of the 

 tail. There are no diverticula. The brown tubes are small and 

 free, they open at the same level as the anus. 



The habitat of this species is the same as that of S. vastus, with 

 which it is usually found. 



4. Physcosoma nigrescens Kef. 



Several examples from Funafuti. The species extends through 

 the Pacific and Indian Oceans to the Red Sea. 



The members of this species and of the three followmg are found 

 under the loosely massed rocks of the outer reefs, and also in tubes 

 excavated in solid coral-rock. 



5. Physcosoma pacieicum Kef. (Plate XXXVII. fig. 6.) 

 One specimen from Kotuma and numerous specimens from 



Funafuti. This species has previously been described from the 

 Pacific and Indian Oceans and from tlie Red Sea. 



The Rotuma specimen was without its head, and although the 

 introvert was not fully extended it attained a length of 16 cm., 

 considerably longer than any of the Funafuti specimens (fig. 6). 

 The posterior sixth of the same specimen was curiously narrowed 

 by the contraction of the circular muscles, so that a sort of tail, 

 which bristles with the closely compressed papillae, is formed. 

 The brown tubes extend into this portion, which is traversed 

 by the spindle-muscle, but the intestine does not extend into it. 



6. Physcosoma scolops Sel. & de Man. 



Several specimens of varying size, all with their introvert re- 

 tracted, fi'om Funafuti. This species also occurs at Singapore, 

 the Philippines, and in the Red Sea. 



