\\ 



hen I resolved to undertake repeated studies of the Sipunculids under the com- 

 mon title: Northern and Arctic Invertebrates in the collection of the Swedish State 

 Museum», I did it in the expectation, that they would introduce and be followed by 

 a series, as complete as possible, of reports, papers and notes, based on the abundant 

 materials of northem and arctic animals, which belong to the Swedish State Museum. 

 And I also entertained the expectation that such memoirs, performed by Swedish 

 and foreign scientific men, always would be accompanied by critical synoptic tables, 

 presenting the most obvious distinguishing characters between the respective Genera 

 and Species. For I thought that such an arrangement would render the papers in 

 question useful for all, for scientific men, versed in zoology, as well as for explorers 

 of northem and arctic seas. 



However, with regard to such an extensive field for researches as the investi- 

 gation of the animals which inhabit the arctic and northern seas, I thought that an 

 international cooperation would be highly desirable. Now I regret that such an ar- 

 rangement is impracticable, since the »Fauna Arctica» has begun to appear in print, 

 a work based almost exclusively on materials resulting from a few German expeditions 

 to the arctic Sea. Supposing that this »Fauna Arctica» had been based not only on 

 the German collections but also on all the abundant materials heaped in the Scan- 

 dinavian Museums, brought together by a great number of expeditions, then, I ara 

 sure, it would have been a tme standard work. Now we Scandinavians have no 

 other way than to investigate our own collections separately. 



When I am now going to give a suramary review of those Priapulids and 

 Echiurids etc, which pass their life in the northern and arctic Seas, I follow almost 

 the same arrangement as I did in my account of the Sipunculids. l Consequently I 

 enumerate under the head of »Habitat» all such localities or stations where animals 

 have been brought up in the dredge, animals examined by me, either they are kept 

 in the Swedish State Museum or in other Scandinavian Museums. On the other 



1 Northern and Arctic Invertebrates in the collection of the Swedish State Museum. I. Sipunculid 

 K. V. Akademiens Handlingar. XXXIY, 1. Upsala 1905. 



K. Sv. Vet. Åkad. Handl. BaDd. 40. N : o i. 1 



