344 EUNICID^E. 



in so far as the opening into the ccelom is by a large and permanent genital funnel, 

 instead of by a small nephrostome as in the family mentioned. They transmit the genital 

 products. 



The sexes occasionally exhibit, as in Eunice norvegica, considerable differences — for 

 instance, in the branchiae. 



The larva passes through two ringed prototroch, and through metatrochophore and 

 nectochaete stages (Hacker). 



Some secrete tubes — hyaline, papyraceous, or strengthened with fragments of shells, 

 stones, or sea-weeds, and they may be slightly branched ; whilst others frequent tunnels 

 of sandy mud in clefts and fissures of rocks, or under tangle-roots and the crusts of 

 Lithothamnion. Mr. Crossland 1 observed Eunice siciliensis in the Red Sea in long, tortuous 

 holes, lined with parchment-like material. He thinks the importance of this form is 

 noteworthy in breaking clown coral, for it not only eats considerable quantities, it may be 

 for the parasitic algae found in stony corals, but its tunnel enables Ghone to gain an entrance. 

 He is inclined to think the dental apparatus is the boring apparatus as in Ly si dice, but 

 such has not yet been proved. 



Audouin and Milne Edwards (1834) observe that in the Eunicidae the jaws attained 

 the maximum development, and that some forms (Lumbrinereidae) had a symmetrical 

 arrangement (four on each side), whilst others show irregularity in this respect (Eunice, 

 Aglaura). They point out the uniramous feet and the presence or absence of branchia3, 

 which form a more or less pectinate fringe or a spiral. They divide the group into 

 Branchiate and Abranchiate, the former including Eunice, Onuphis, and Diopatra, the 

 latter Lysiclice, Lumbrinereis, Aglaura, and (Enone. They term the mandibles the inferior 

 jaws. The maxillae of this work are their superior pair; the second pair are their 

 maxillae ; the third pair (from behind) correspond to the anterior plates, whilst their 

 supernumerary plate is the azygos plate. They arrange the species according to the 

 presence or absence of the tentacular cirri. 



Grrube, 2 after Savigny, grouped in his early work the genus Eunice along with Diopatra, 

 Onuphis, Lumbriconereis, Aglaura, and (Enone under his third family, Eunicea. 



Dr. Thos. Williams 3 states that the segmental organs are large in Eunice, and the 

 branchiae closely connected with them. The generative products are contained in delicate 

 areolar tissue. The ciliated segmental tube and its appended vascular tuft are not easily 

 seen, though more saccular and prominent than in Nereis. He figures, in Eunice gigantea, 

 the organ as loop-like in connection with a blood-vessel. He observes that the female is 

 nearly twice as large as the male at the reproductive season. 



Kinberg 4 gave as the general characters of the Eunicea (Sav.) coadnate mandibles 

 and longitudinal maxillae, of which the first lamina is present. The Eunicea proper, again, 

 have seven to nine maxillae, part ii edentate ; five tentacles, and neither antennas nor palpi. 

 The buccal segment is double. He arranged the genera according to the form of the 



1 I am much indebted to my friend for many useful notes from the Reel Sea. 



2 <Fam. Annel./p. 44, 1851. 



3 'Philos. Trans./ p. 127, pi. viii, fig. 20, 1858. 



4 'Ofvers. af k. Vet.-Akad. Fork/ 1864, No. 10, pp. 559 and 561. 



