32 



COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 



3. BrancMostoma belcheri. 



Amphioxus belcheri, Gray, P. Z. 8. 1847, p. 35. 

 Branchiostoma .belcheri, Cfrai/, Chondropt. p. 150. 



Myocommas 37 + 14+18=64 (Borneo). 



37 + 14 + 14=65 (Prince of Wales Isl.). 



This Lancelet is very similar to, but rather more elongate than, 

 B. lanceoleUum, and the flns, instead of being dilated behind, gradually 

 decrease in width towards the extremity of the tail. 



The specimens were collected partly by Sir E. Belcher during the 

 cruise of H.M.S. ' Samarang ' on the coast of Borneo, partly by 

 Dr. Coppinger at Prince of Wales Island, Torres Straits. 



4. Eraachiostoma caribsenm. 



Smdevall, I. c. 1853, p. 12. 



Myocommas 37+14+9 = 60 (Sundevall). 

 37+14 + 9=60. 

 37+13+9=59. 



Distinguished from B. belcJieri and lanceolatwm by the shortness 

 of its tail and by the attenuated form of the extremities of the body. 



St. Thomas ; Kio de Janeiro ; mouth of the Plate river. 



I am indebted for specimens of this species to the kindness of 

 Prof. Ed. Van Beneden, who obtained them in great numbers 

 in the Bay of Botafogo ; they are the same species on which Moreau 

 made his researches on the structure of the notochord (Bull. Ac. 

 Eoy. Belg. 1876, p. 312). The name of AmphioaMs muUeri (Eroyer, 

 MS.) was adopted for them ; but, as this has never been described 

 it is doubtful whether the name was intended for this or some 

 other species. 



5. Branchiostoma lanceolatnm (Pall). 



Myocommas 35 + 12+12=59 (Polperro). 



36 + 14+11=61 (Scandin., Sundevall). 

 84+13 + 13=60 (Naples). 

 35+12+13=60 (Naples)*. 



Coasts of Europe ; Atlantic coasts of North America. 



6. BraucMpstoma cultellmu. 



Epigonichthys culteUus, Peters, Berl. MB. 1876, p. 327 (c. fig.). 



Myocommas 32+10 + 10 = 52, or 

 31 + 11 + 10=52. 

 Anterior part of the dorsal fin high ; fin between branchial porus 



* I take this opportunity of correcting an error on p. 63 of ' Sludy of 

 Fishes,' where in fig. 28 the letters b and c have inadvertentlj been reversed. 



