298 MR. CYHIL CROSSLAXD ON THE [Feb. 16, 



The species is thus seen to be widely distributed, but usually 

 few in numbers. 



The largest specimen shows an interesting abnormality of the 

 right nuchal cirrus, by which the structure of the first foot is 

 almost reproduced. If the supposition that nuchal or tentacular 

 cirri are the remnants of reduced parapodia be correct, it is not 

 surprising that variations should occur in which the ventral as 

 well as the dorsal cirrus is retained. Text-figure 46 gives a 

 comparison between this abnormality (a) and the structure of 

 the first foot (6), which is here, as in most species, somewhat 

 reduced. 



Text-fii--. 46. 



Abuoniial iivicluil cirrus (a) and lirst foot (h) of a specimen of E. coccinea. 



The very characteristic colour of the animal dui-ing life is sub- 

 ject to a small amount of variation. It approaches that described 

 as typical by Grube m.ost closely in the specimens from Mombasa. 

 In one of these, which is in process of regenerating the head and 

 anterior segments, only traces of the colour remain, while in the 

 other it is bvit a little lighter now than in life. The head and 

 anterior part of the body, a little beyond the last rudimentaiy 

 gill, are of a brilliant red, of a tint between that of blood and 

 polished copper, the ventral surface being similar but lighter. 

 This colotir spreads over tentacles, nuchal cirri, and feet, but the 

 gills and doi'sal cirri, with the exception of the first few, are now 

 white, and nearly all colour dies out posteriorly. The sixth 

 setigerous segment is white, and a few similar transverse marks 

 occur behind this. In the posterior two-thirds of the gill-region 

 every segment has a white spot in the middle line and one on 

 each side just above the foot. 



This corresponds with Grube's account, and, curiously enough, 

 especially exactly with that of his East African specimen. The 

 appearance in life * may, however, be altered by the presence of a 

 brilliant iridescent green colour covering the head, tentacles, and 

 nuchal cirri. The bases and tips of the latter are, however, white, 

 as are the dorsal cirri, though the longer anterior ones are banded 

 with green. The gills, though as usual red, have a greenish 

 tinge over this. The ground -coloiir of this specimen, now a dull 



* This coloration was noted from the living specimen dredged off Prison Island. 

 The green pigment remains visible in two other African specimens and the brown 

 pigment and white dots in tile remainder. 



