SPINTHER. 227 



Amphinomiens, and separated from the Aphroditidae by the Palmyridae, Eunicidae and 

 Lumbrinereidae. The Amphinomidae he characterised by the similar or subsimilar seg- 

 ments, by the absence of buccal armature or its simple nature, and by the presence of 

 arborescent branchiae on the segments. The separation of the Euphrosynidae and their 

 allies from the proximity of the Aphroditidae does not seem to be warranted on anatomi- 

 cal grounds. 



Claus in his ' Grundzuge ' (1880) placed the Euphrosynina3 as a sub-family of the 

 Amphinornidae. 



Carus l makes Euphrosine one of the genera of his Amphinomea, and describes it as 

 having the head with one or several antennas, two eyes, and a caruncle ; body ovate ; 

 feet biramous, rami confluent ; branchiae springing from numerous trunks more or less 

 branched. 



In Benham's 2 (1896) classification they form part of his eighth family Amphinomidae, 

 placed between the Nephthydidae and Eunicidae, a position which, as already indicated, 

 cannot be supported on anatomical or other grounds of value. 



Genus — Spinthek, Johnston, 1845. 



Oniscosoma, M. Sars, 1850. 

 Cryptonota, Stimpson, 1854. 



Body ovoid ; dorsum more or less convex ; segments few. Cephalic region incised 

 as in the other segments, and bearing dorsal bristles, lamellae and uncinate setae. Eyes 

 four, at the base of the dorsal tentacle. Buccal aperture inferior — set in the midst of the 

 neighbouring segments. Proboscis exsertile, short and semi-tubular. Intestine pinnate. 

 Anus posterior. Nerve-cords widely separated. Segmental organs absent. Neither 

 cirri nor branchiae. 



Since few opportunities have occurred in this country of seeing living examples of 

 the genus, it will most conduce to brevity and clearness if the recent work of von Graff 

 be summarised. 



Polychaeta with elliptical and dorsally convex bodies gently rounded anteriorly and 

 posteriorly, and having distinctly marked segments. The flanks have a series of short 

 parapodia with a dorsal lamella in each segment. In the centre anteriorly is a single 

 tentacle, while posteriorly two wart-like anal cirri occur. At the base of the dorsal 

 tentacle are four small eyes. On the ventral surface a little behind the snout is the 

 mouth. Posteriorly is the anus, with the reproductive aperture in front. The free dorsal 

 lamellae have a double row of chitinous bristles with simple or bifid tips. The parapodia 

 have a prominent hooked and jointed bristle, and from one to four of the same kind 

 undergoing development, besides from eight to thirteen simple bristles. The brain lies 

 under the dorsal tentacle. The sincipital region of Racovitza is the only part of the head 

 remaining, and consequently the middle region of the brain is alone present — both the 



1 Op. cit., f Prod. F. Medit.' 



2 < Camb. Nat. Hist./ p. 318. 



