47 16 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



SYSTEMATIC PARI. 

 Order ARCHIANNELIDA. 



Nerilla antennata 0. Schmidt, 



1912. NeriMa antennata Goodrich, p. 397. 



This species was found frequently in Blacksod Bay, living in weeds on 

 the shore. It was also found in the sand of a Zostera bed, and dredged in 

 2 fms. 



This species was until recently included amongst the Polychaeta. After 

 an elaborate investigation of its anatomy, Goodrich concluded that the alleged 

 resemblances to the Syllidae are merely superficial, and that the proper place 

 for this species is with the Archiannelida, in which group it occupies a very 

 central position. 



Habitat. — Blacksod Bay — Found on the shore on 6 occasions. Dredged 

 in 2 fms. 



Distribution. — Dublin Bay ; Plymouth ; Faroe ; Helgoland ; Kiel ; France ; 

 Naples. 



Polygordius lacteus Schneider. 



1887. Polygordius lacteus + P. ncapolitanus. Fraipont, pp. 86, 89. 1907. 

 P. ponticus. Salensky, p. 103. 1906. P. lacteus. Hempelmann, p. 527. 



This species of Polygordius is very abundant in certain parts of Clew 

 Bay, where the bottom consists of fine gravel, or of sand and shells. It occurs 

 on similar ground in Dingle Bay. 



Hempelmann has shown (1906) that P. lacteus of the North Sea is 

 identical with P. neapolitanus of the Mediterranean, and adds that probably 

 all the described European forms — with the exception of P. appendicidahis 

 and P. triestinus, which are clearly distinct — will be shown on further 

 examination to belong to the same species. This seems extremely likely, 

 as the diagnostic characters used are vague, and probably erroneous. 



Polygordius was dredged on 5 occasions in Clew Bay, on a bottom of 

 gravel or shelly sand. Mature specimens were found in August. 



Habitat.— Clew Bat — Dredged on 5 occasions in 16-24 fms. 



Distribution.— North Sea ; Mediterranean ; Black Sea. 



Polygordius appendiculatus Fraipont. 



1887. Polygordius a,ppcndictdatus. Fraipont, p. 88. 



Numerous specimens of this species were dredged on two occasions in 

 Clew Bay, in 24-27 fms. on a bottom of sand and shells. They were 

 accompanied by numerous specimens of P. lacteus Schneider. From the 

 latter species they are easily distinguished by the shorter and thinner body. 



