442 PHOLOE MINUTA. 



The bottom tow-net procured, on February 4tli in four to five fathoms, a young 

 example of Pholoe having thirteen feet on each side. The head bears in front two 

 closely approximated median eyes, and two more widely separated towards the posterior 

 border. Both pairs of eyes have a rounded, lens-like differentiation. The median 

 tentacle is well developed and subulate, while three smaller and the stump of a fourth 

 (making two tentacular cirri) project in front. These are minutely but sparsely 

 papillose. The palpi have enlarged basal regions, and taper to a blunt point. The body 

 is flattened and nearly of uniform diameter, though tapered a little in front and more 

 distinctly posteriorly, where it terminates in a rounded " boss " on each side of the vent, 

 the globular cirri of the last pair of feet generally projecting on each side a little in 

 front. The proboscis is furnished with well-marked teeth. 



The feet show dorsal and ventral divisions, each with a spine and the characteristic 

 bristles, besides the cirri. At least four pairs of scales were present, most with five cilia 

 on the outer border, though one (probably the first) had seven. Lines radiating from 

 the centre of the scale to the base of the cilia probably indicated nerve-strands. 



Habits. — They break, when lifted with the forceps, like the Polynoidas, but are 

 sluggish, lurking under stones between tide-marks. The best way to obtain them, 

 indeed, is to chip fragments from the under surfaces of stones covered with various 

 growths in pools near low water mark, and immerse them in sea water for a day or 

 two. The Annelids either occur at the water-line of the vessel or are found by examining 

 the debris at the bottom. 



P. minuta was first found by Otlio Fabricius on the shores of Greenland, and 

 afterwards by Oersted in the same region. 



Dr. Thomas Williams 1 (1858) credited this species with the only vascular system he 

 had been able to see in the Aphroditaceans in the form of a vessel, carrying a colourless 

 fluid in contact with the nerve-cord, and slowly undulating with pulsations. 



The Pholoe synophthalmia of Claparede seems to be a closely allied if not identical 

 form. 2 Marion and Bobretzky, 3 who agreed with this author as to the specific distinction 

 of P. synophthalmia, point out the proper interpretation of the cephalic appendages, and 

 that the first segment is fused with the cephalic, so that the first scale is borne on the 

 second segment. De Saint-Joseph likewise follows Claparede in separating P. synoph- 

 thalmia. 



Marenzeller 4 (1893) describes a new species from the African shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean (Santorin), in which the dorsum of the body is covered with papilla?, and the 

 scales have more numerous cilia. The bristles seem to approach closely those of the 

 common form. 



Dr. Michaelsen lately (1897) regarded the variety eximia as a distinct species, but 

 he relied chiefly on the divergence of the scales and other points already alluded to. It 

 is sufficient to consider eximia a variety, and chiefly a smaller variety. He kindly sent 

 me slides for examination, so that no dubiety might exist. 



1 'Philos. Trans./ 1858, p. 135. 



2 ( Annal. Chet. Naples/ 79, pi. iii, f. 1. 



3 ' Ann. Sc. Nat./ 1875, pp. 8, 9. 



4 ' Polychaten des Grundes/ 1893, p. 6, pi. i, f. 3. 



