SCOLECOLEPIS (I). 167 



Unfortunately the example from the ' Triton ' is fragmentary, about twenty-five 

 segments of the anterior region being present, and more or less softened. The head is 

 smoothly rounded in front, and the aspect considerably less truncate than in the ordinary 

 form. No gill is visible on the first foot, but the condition of the specimen may account 

 for this. The tenth foot also has a more acute dorsal lamella and better developed 

 bristles, but there is little difference in the ventral lamella and the bristles of the division. 

 The larger modified bristles at the ventral edge have not yet shown themselves, but they 

 are apparent at the twentieth foot, where there are three, and they slightly differ from 

 the typical form in their comparative slenderness, and in the finer dots. The winged 

 hooks occur in the typical segment, and they show a similar, though perhaps more 

 delicate, structure than in the ordinary form. 



Scolecolepis (I). Plate CV, fig. 6— bristle. 



Synonym. 

 1909. Scolecolepis (I), Mcintosh. Ann. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, vol. iii, p. 176, pi. vi, fig. 9. 



Habitat. — Dredged in 164 fathoms off the west coast of Ireland in the ' Porcupine ' 

 Expedition of 1869, on a bottom of greyish sand, stones, and coral. 



This fragmentary Scolecolepis (I) shows certain novel features. The head is short, 

 with a slightly bilobed anterior border, which forms the base of a triangle ending in a 

 short subulate tentacle posteriorly. No eyes are visible in the preparation. A little 

 behind the anterior edge of the snout ventrally are two prominent, rounded peristomial 

 papillas in front of the mouth. The fragmentary body consists of about sixteen segments, 

 at the posterior end of which new segments and a tail are developing. It is flattened 

 dorsally and grooved in the median line ventrally, whilst the sides are flanked by an 

 extraordinary development of dull golden bristles, which at first sight make an approach 

 to the condition in Euphrosyne. A kind of flap, vertically elongated, occurs immediately 

 behind the snout, but it does not appear to have either bristle or branchia. The first 

 bristled foot carries a branchia and long tufts of bristles dorsally and ventrally ; but the 

 condition of the foot negatives a minute description. The bristles are of comparatively 

 great length and strength, are finely tapered, and conform to the usual arrangement in 

 Scolecolepis, the upper of the superior division being longest and curved upward and 

 backward. No wings are visible. The bristles of the inferior division form a dense 

 group shorter than the superior, and they are curved backward. Focussing indicated a 

 margin on each side of the tapered tip, but there is no distinct wing. 



The great development of the superior lamella is soon conspicuous, and at the tenth 

 foot 1 it forms a large lanceolate crest on the dorsum, the outer or inferior edge being 

 rounded, whilst the inner is acute. The branchia appears to be subulate and to stretch 

 inward over the dorsum, but all had disappeared during the examination of the minute 

 specimen. The remarkably dense, strong, and boldly curved dull golden bristles curve 

 upward and backward, and narrow wings are evident on the lower bristles and many others 



1 ' Ann. Nat. Hist./ ser. 8, vol. hi, pi. vi, fig. 9. 



