POLYCILETA OF THE L.M.B.C. DISTRICT. 261 



Family. — SERPULiDiE . 

 1. Sub-family. — Sabellin2E. 



Sabella pavonia, Savigny. 



Hab: 4, 7, 8, E, H, M. 



I have found considerable variation in this species, both 

 in size and in the colouration of the branchial filaments. 

 In this district it ranges from some feet above low water 

 level to 16 fathoms, but specimens which are ever left 

 uncovered by the tide never attain to the largest size. 



Sabella pavonia, var. bicoronata, n. 



Hab : Bock pools at extreme low water at Hilbre Id. 



This variety is found in considerable numbers as above. 

 From the type it differs in nothing save the arrangement 

 of the branchiae. These are in two unequal tufts forming 

 two closely superposed cirles of filaments when expanded — 

 nearly 4 in. in diameter in large specimens. 



Of the two fully grown specimens obtained one had 61 

 filaments in one tuft, and 30 in the other. The second 

 had 55 and 37 respectively. The smaller tuft usually forms 

 more than half a circle, the larger meets this on one side 

 and forms the remainder of the outer circle and then curves 

 inwards to make a more or less complete inner circle. The 

 anterior part has 8 — 13 segments. At first I was inclined 

 to form a new species for this animal and to place 

 it in the genus Spirographis but for the present I 

 incline to count it merely a variety. Numbers of normal 

 S. pavonia are found associated. Probably many of the 

 species of Spirographis described in various works will in 

 time be eliminated and found to be varieties of different 

 species of Sabella. In Dasychone herdmani, mentioned 

 next a specimen is noted having unequal tufts after the 

 same manner. 



