STAITROCEPHALUS PITBPOVITTATUS. 357 



The segmental organs in this form are visible as transparent objects in the yonng 

 examples (Fage 1 ). The external aperture is placed above the glandular epidermic pad 

 at the base of the foot. 



Habits. — It is active like a Hesione and appears to be tolerably hardy. De St. Joseph 

 states that it secretes much mucus. Eisig 2 describes the Neapolitan form, S. Rudolphii, 

 D. Ch., as swimming freely in an undulating manner, and performing various movements 

 even after decapitation. 



It is possible that further examination may reveal a closer approach between this and 

 allied forms such as Delle Chiaje's species named by Claparede S. ChiajL Moreover the 

 Nereis Budolphii of Delle Chiaje 3 appears to be the present species. In the ' Descrizione ' 

 it is termed Syllis Radolphiana. 4i 



In Montagu's MS. volume of drawings (1808) in the Linnean Society is a figure of 

 this species (Plate XLVII, fig. 1), named Nereis pennata r and with" Dor inllea lobata" 

 pencilled opposite. The proboscis is thrust out and coloured pink. Only two eyes are 

 represented. It is clear, therefore, that Col. Montagu was the first naturalist who 

 procured the species. 



This is one of the numerous species the accurate description of which science owes 

 to the indefatigable exertions — continued throughout a long life — of Prof. Ed. Grube, of 

 Breslau, who found it in 1855 in the Adriatic at Triest, Fiuma, and Cherso. An amended 

 description, generic and specific, was published a few years later (1860). He held the 

 foot to be uniramous, and the blood red. Grube also pointed out its differences from 

 Anisoceras vittata, rubra, and bioculata, Grube and CErsted. 



Pruvot agrees with Ehlers in considering the inferior appendages of the head to be 

 palpi. He found the nervous system of this species conform to the type in the Eunicicla3. 



Pruvot and Eacovitza 5 describe the first segment as having four red bands. More- 

 over they mention two varieties, viz., those with the two bands on each segment, which 

 are commonly dredged and which secrete a tube of mucus, and the variety with one band 

 which inhabits dead colonies of Dendrophyllia and Amphihelia and also occurs amongst 

 Serpuhe. The authors give an elaborate description of the structure of the foot and of 

 the proboscis and its armature. 



The accurate comparison of the American forms of this group has yet to be carried 

 out, and the connection between such species as the Staurocephalus pallidus of Verrill, 

 and 8. sociabilis of Webster, from the American shores, and the British forms, may be 

 closer than is at present supposed. 



The following fall under Grube's second main division in which the palpi are jointed, 

 whilst the dorsal cirri are very short and without an articulation, or absent. 



1 < Ann. Sc. nat./ 9 e ser., hi, p. 349, 1906. 

 » f Fauna u. Fl. Neap./ xxviii, p. 211, 1906. 



3 < Mem./ hi, pp. 166, 176, Tav. xliii, figs. 13, 14, 19. 



4 T. iii, p. 95. 



5 ' Arch. Zool. exper./ 3 e sei\, vol. hi, pp. 349—373, pi. xv, 1895. 



