ONUPHIS BEITANNICA. 405 



1904. Onwphis conchilega, Allen. Journ. M. B. A., n.s. vol. vii, p. 225. 



? 1905. „ conchylega, Willey. Rep. Ceylon Pearl Fisheries, iv, p. 276. 



Habitat.— Dredged by Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys in 100 fathoms, St. Magnus Bay, and 90 

 fathoms off North Unst, Shetland, in 1867. Dredged thirty to fifty miles W. of Valentia 

 in 90 — 125 fathoms and in Donegal Bay (J. Gr. J.) ; in ninety-two fathoms on Adventure 

 Bank in sandy mud, 'Porcupine,' 1870. Ceylon ? Dr. Willey identifies the Ceylonese 

 species with that at Plymouth, so that in all probability they agree. S.W. Ireland, 

 Stat. I, 1885, log 3, forty-five fathoms; Stat, VII, ditto, twenty-two fathoms, 1890 

 (12th May) ; S.W. Ireland, ditto, Stat. I, log 3; eighty fathoms, P. Irish Acad. Expect., 

 1885, Plymouth, as 0. conchilega, (Allen). 



Head (Plate LXIII, fig. 7) with two small lobate frontal tentacles on each side of the 

 middle line, and five long tentacles, the median, as in Eunice, being longest and the inner 

 lateral much exceeding the outer in length. Each arises from a ringed cirrophore. The 

 median is most posterior, and the longer lateral springs behind the shorter. A well- 

 marked black eye occurs to the exterior of the base of the long lateral, and occasionally a 

 black speck lies in front of the median. On the ventral surface are two flattened palpi, 

 separated by a median fissure, and projecting laterally rather than anteriorly. 



The body is tapered in front and more distinctly so posteriorly, and has forty-two or 

 more bristled segments, and therefore is much shorter than in Hyalinoecia, The peri- 

 stomial segment is about half the breadth of the succeeding, and bears dorsally two 

 subulate tentacular cirri which arise from the centre of the segment, and at the base of 

 each externally is a black speck. A similar black speck occurs on the next and is distinct 

 on the following eight or nine segments — gradually fading after the commencement of 

 the branchiae. The segment following is broad and carries the large first pair of feet, 

 which project in the preparations forward almost to the anterior border of the snout. 

 The next feet are also large but they gradually diminish. The body is somewhat 

 rounded dorsally, especially in front, and has a deep ventral groove. The general 

 colour, in life, is pale brownish with an iridescent lustre, the pigment being darkest in 

 front and along the median line, which is also marked by the dorsal vessel. A tinge 

 of yellow occurs at the tail, and the branchiae are red. The head and tentacles are 

 yellowish. The body terminates posteriorly in two caudal cirri arising beneath a 

 dilated anus. 



Proboscis. — The dental apparatus (Plate LXIII, fig. 7 a) is pale with a slight tinge 

 of chocolate, also with dark chocolate bands on the edges of the maxillae and dental 

 plates and in the form of an English cross at the posterior appendages. The maxilla? 

 are broad posteriorly and narrow in front, with a sharp tip. The right great dental 

 plate has eleven or twelve teeth, the first being most prominent and hooked. The 

 left has ten teeth, but from a hiatus one appears to have been broken. The left 

 azygos has ten teeth. The right anterior curved plate has ten or eleven teeth> and 

 the left about the same number. The posterior appendages taper backward from a 

 somewhat broad base so that they are more or less triangular. The mandibles (Plate 

 LXIII, fig. 7 b) have long tapering shafts, and the somewhat narrow dental edge has 

 a few points. A dark spot occurs at the shoulder externally, and in some an angular 



