620 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Serpula dianthus Yerrill, sp. nov. (p. 322.) 



Body elongated, gradually attenuated to the posterior end ; the pos- 

 terior region considerably flattened 5 dorsal surface covered with 

 minute papillse and having a finely pubescent appearance under a lens. 

 Collar broad and long, in living specimens sometimes one-third as long 

 as the body; the posterior x)ortion free dorsally, and in expansion about as 

 long as the attached portion, extending backward and gradually narrow, 

 ing to the end; the margins thin and undulated ; the anterior border is di- 

 vided into a broad re volute dorsal lobe, with an undulated margin, and 

 two narrower lateral lobes, which are broadly re volute laterally, with the 

 margin, rounded and nearly even. Seven segments bear rather large 

 fascicles of long, acute set«. The first fascicle is remote from the next, 

 and directed downward and forward, with the setae longer than in the 

 others; the six following fascicles are broad, and are directed downward 

 and backward. The uncinate setae form long transverse rows anteriorly, 

 but toward the posterior end they form short rows. Operculum funnel- 

 shaped, longitudinally striated externally, with a long, slender pedicel ; 

 the upper surface is concave, with about thirty small, acute denticles 

 around the margin; an inner circle of about twelve long, slender 

 papillae, incurved at tips and united at base, arises from the upper 

 surface of the operculum. On the left side is a small rudimentary oper- 

 culum, club-shaped at the end, with a short pedicel. Branchiae are long 

 rather slender, united close to the base, about eighteen on each side, in 

 mature specimens, those toward the ventral border considerably longer, 

 than the ux)per ones ; tips naked for a short distance, slender, and acute ; 

 pinnae very numerous, slender. Colors quite variable, especially those 

 of the branchiae; the branchiae are frequently purplish brown, trans- 

 versely banded with flake- white, alternating with yellowish green, the 

 pinnae usually having the same color as the portion from which they 

 arise ; on the exterior of the branchiae the purple bands are often divided 

 by a narrow longitudinal line of whitish ; operculum brownish green 

 on the outer surface, purplish on the sides, with white longitudinal lines 

 toward the margin, greenish white at base ; pedicel purplish, banded 

 with white ; collar pale translucent greenish, veined with darker green ; 

 body deep greenish yellow, the dorsal surface light yellow. Many other 

 styles of coloration occur, some of which are described on page 322. 



Length up to 75'""^ ; diameter about 3""". 



Great Egg Harbor to New Haven and Cape Cod ; low- water mark to 

 8 fathoms. 



The tubes are long, variously crooked, and often contorted, sometimes 

 solitary, frequently aggregated into masses four or five inches in diame- 

 ter. Tliey are nearly cylindrical, with irreguhir lines of growth, and 

 sometimes with faint carinations. 



Serpula dianthus, var. citrina Yerrill. (j). 322.) 

 I have applied this name to a very marked color-variety, \n which tlie 



