ANNELIDS FROM THE N.E. PACIFIC. 243 
the curious fused falcigers in the notopodial bundle, figured by 
various authors and mentioned above. The presence of these 
setee is the only valid point distinguishing any of these species 
from WV. dumerilit of the Atlantic coasts which has hitherto been 
mentioned by any author. Further, no author has yet given any 
point of distinction between these three Pacific species which has 
the least weight whatsoever. For example, Izuka describes and 
figures them, one after the other, in his fine work on Japanese 
Polycheta, but gives no means whatsoever of distinguishing the 
three. They are apparently three absolutely indistinguishable 
species, and they even inhabit the same localities. | Nor does he 
compare them in any way; in not one of the three fully detailed 
descriptions does he even mention the names of the other two 
species. Systematic zoology becomes impossible under these 
conditions. 
It does appear that the Platynereis of the North Pacific in the 
adult form * is characterized by these peculiar fused falcigers 
(which there can scarcely be a doubt are fully homologous with 
the corresponding unfused homogomph falcigers occurring in 
Platynereis from all other parts of the Oceans). 
If this isa valid specific distinction, then we have the following 
synonymy of V. agassizi Ehlers :— 
Nereis kobiensis : McIntosh (7), p. 210, pl. xxxiv. figs. 
3-6; pl. xviA. figs. 2-4. 
Treadwell (15), p. 226; (16), p. 1161. 
Izuka (5), p. 162, pl. xvii. figs. 12-13. 
Nereis dumerilii A. et E.: Izuka (5), p. 158, pl. xvii. figs. 7-8. 
Marenzeller (10), p. 123, pl. ii. fig. 4. 
* 
Moore (11, p. 344) has already suggested ‘that the Japanese 
specimens referred to WV. dumerilii by Marenzeller belong to this 
closely related but perfectly distinct species” (i. e., V. agassizi). 
There remains, however, considerable doubt as to whether 
N. agassizi should not be regarded as a mere subspecies of 
N. dumerilii, and whether the latter has not a world-wide range 
in the Southern as well as the Northern Hemisphere. This 
I propose to discuss at a future date, after a more complete 
examination of the material from all parts of the world which is 
at my command. 
MICRONEREIS VARIEGATA Claparede. 
Micronereis variegata Claparede (1), p. 57, Taf. xi. figs. 5-7, 
1863. 
Four specimens, Departure Bay, May 1911. 
* Von Marenzeller (10) figures an unfused homogomph falciger from a young 
Japanese example of N. dwmerilii, which differs in no way from the ordinary type, 
and suggests that the unjointed type of bristle in old specimens is derived from this 
by fusion of the appendage in its socket. 
Proc. Zoou. Soc.— 1914, No, XVII. Lf 
