47 16 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The peculiar dorsal seta is obviously homologous to the lyrate seta present 

 in the dorsal region of the feet of some members of this family. 



The anal segment (PL V, figs. 6b, 6c) consists anteriorly of a thickened, 

 deeply pigmented ring, which is produced backwards into a flat hood-shaped 

 plate concave below, rounded behind, with the edge entire. The anus lies 

 dorsally at the posterior median margin of the thickened ridge, which also 

 carries two long slender anal cirri dorsally. 



The opening of the proboscis is surrounded by a number of papillae. 

 Unripe eggs were found in the parapodia of one specimen collected in 

 September. 



M. Sezelkowii was described in 1865 by Mecznikow, who found it at 

 Helgoland. His description and figures are very incomplete, and in some 

 respects erroneous, and the species does not seem to have been found since. 

 In the shape of the tentacular cirri, feet, and anal plate, the Irish specimens 

 agree with Mecznikow's description. The most noteworthy difference lies in 

 the position of the median tentacle,, which, in the figure given by Mecznikow, 

 rises in front of the eyes, whilst in the Irish specimens it is behind the 

 eyes. The peculiar dorsal seta, wrongly described and figured by Mecznikow 

 as compound, is differently shaped and has fewer teeth in the Irish specimens. 

 The figure of the compound setae given by Mecznikow is too imperfect to 

 have any value. These differences are slight, and may be clue to errors of 

 observation on the part of Mecznikow, and until specimens from the original 

 locality are re-examined it seems preferable not to create a new specific 

 name. 



The Podarke abermiis of Webster and Benedict (1S87, p. 713) belongs to 

 the genus Microphthalmias. I have re-examined the original types from 

 the United States National Museum and the Union College. In the shape 

 of the body, head, and feet, and the position of the median antenna, this 

 species agrees closely with the Irish specimens. The only distinction of any 

 value lies in the shape of the setae in the dorsal lobe of the foot. According 

 to "Webster and Benedict " the dorsal setae are short, stout, simple, six to 

 eight in each bundle." This statement does not apply to any of the 

 specimens of Podarke abcrrans which I examined. 



The setae normally occurring in the dorsal division are shown in PL V, 

 fig. 7. There is a slender pointed aciculum, a stout curved smooth seta ending 

 in a sharp point, and a similar curved seta with the terminal portion fringed 

 with fine teeth. 



This latter seta was cpiite overlooked by Webster and Benedict. The 

 dorsal division of this species differs from that of the Irish specimens in the 

 presence of the curved smooth seta, and in the shape of pectinate seta, which 



