168 LEPREA LAPIDARIA. 



of the axis, and the rest is flattened out to form the terminal blade, which tapers 

 somewhat suddenly from the broad base to a fine hair-like extremity, the edge opposite 

 the process having a thickened rim, whilst the other is minutely serrated. Malmgren's 

 artist has not very accurately interpreted the basal part. 1 The second series of 

 translucent bristles is shorter and often shows a slight curvature of the shaft, the 

 process or rib at the tip of which is considerably longer than in the former series, 

 the serrated blade passing off with a broad basal web to the hair-like tip. The rib 

 or process in both longer and shorter would appear to stiffen the terminal web. 



The posterior bristles are brittle, and few remain after capture. They consist of 

 long, slender, translucent shafts bifid at the tip — that is to say, the web at the tip is 

 stiffened by two spur-like thickenings, which support the serrated web between them. 

 They show no long, tapering extremity as in front. 



From first to last the setigerous processes are closely associated with the ridges 

 for the hooks, and indeed form part of them, finishing as it were the dorsal end by 

 a pointed process. Anteriorly the process is nearly transverse, but by-and-by it slopes 

 backward, especially posteriorly, where the bristles pass from its posterior and upper 

 angle. From the second branchia backward eight papillas occur above the rows 

 of hooks. 



The hooks (Plate CXXVI, fig. 8 b) commence on the ridge passing from the first 

 bristle-tuft ventrally toward the shields (fifth segment, De St. Joseph), and the succeeding 

 ridges gradually increase in prominence until they are conspicuous latero- ventrally. 

 The first row is single, but at the eleventh a double row occurs, and this continues 

 a considerable distance, but on the small posterior ridges only a single row is found. 

 The typical hook has a large main fang and three teeth above it, the posterior margin 

 is nearly straight, its distal end curving to the crown, and its basal bending outward 

 to form a process of the base. The latter is of moderate length, convex inferiorly, 

 and with a sinuosity in front. The curve beneath the chief fang is abrupt and ends 

 in a prominent process, and below it a curve goes to the anterior prow. Although 

 only three teeth are observed above the great fang in profile, numerous teeth appear 

 when the crown is viewed from above. In the first row of hooks the bases are altered, 

 the anterior prow being prolonged, and the sinus above the base posteriorly being more 

 pronounced than [in the typical hook. Anteriorly the outer edge of the groove for the 

 hooks is free, so that it sometimes resembles a papilla. 



The body, the tentacles and the branchiae occasionally swarm with Rhabdostyla 

 sertularium, Sav. Kent (De St. Joseph). 



Reproduction. — Dalyell (1853) describes the ova as red and embedded in albuminous 

 matter. He does not give the date. De St. Joseph found an example with ripe eggs in 

 August. 



Habits. — Like Marphysa sanguined and Girratulus cirratus, Leprea has a habit of 

 forming a siphonal bend in its tunnel in the fissure of the rock so that both head and tail 

 can be thrust out at the free edge. It is rare, according to De St. Joseph, on shores 

 bordered by granite at Dinard. 



This species was first described and figured by H. Martin Kahler (1754) as a polyp 



i ' Annul. Polych./ Tab. xii, fig. 69b. 



