260 



ME. F. E. BEDDARD ON ANNELIDS 



the opposite side of the seta there is a short slender tooth-like 

 process directed forwards ; this is only found in the setae of 

 the anterior segments ; in the setse of the posterior segments its 

 place is indicated by a swelling. The imbedded extremity of 

 these setse is sharply pointed. A large portion of the shaft is 

 marked by faint constrictions, which give it a transversely striate 

 appearance in the posterior setse. 



The ventral setse are long and slender, and bifid at their ex- 

 tremity, one limb of the bifurcation being shorter than the other. 



The branchise commence at the fourth segment, and gradually 

 increase in size in the posterior segments. Their shape is pre- 

 cisely as described by Prof. M'lntosh in Chloeia flava*. To 

 describe the branchise of C. merguiensis would be merely to re- 

 capitulate Prof. M'Intosh's description. The colour of the 

 branchise is the same as that of the general body-surface ; the 

 main stem is slightly pigmented. 



The first pair of branchise, i. e. those borne by the fourth seg- 

 ment, were in a rudimentary condition as compared with those 

 which follow ; the main branches of the stem were either devoid 

 of secondary branches, or were furnished with only one or two at 

 the base. The complexity of these organs appears to increase 

 in the first few segments. 



The dorsal cirri are deeply pigmented and of considerable 

 length, especially on the middle and posterior segments ; the 

 anterior segments appear to bear an additional minute cirrus in 

 place of the missing branchise, as is mentioned by Prof. M'lntosh 

 in C.Jlava; this second cirrus is not pigmented. 



The ventral cirri are not so long as the dorsal and are 

 unpigmented. 



The anal cirri are short and thick, unpigmented. 



The anus is dorsal in position. 



This species is plainly distinguishable from Chloeia Jlava by the 

 colour and shape of the setse, the spur of the dorsal setse being 

 much more evident than in the present species. Furthermore, 

 the pigmentation of the body in the two species is quite 

 different. 



It is not so easy, however, to distinguish the present species from 

 (J. parva, and accordingly I distinguish it from that species with 

 a certain amount of doubt. 



* Report, on t lie A nin lids collected during the Voyage of II.M.S. 1 Challenger.' 

 Zool. Chall. Exp. vol. xii. (part xxxiv.). 



