508 
THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
Family Serpulida:. 
In comparison with former expeditions that of the Challenger has produced a com- 
paratively large number of species belonging to this family. No less than nineteen 
different forms, besides fragments of undetermined species, occur. The majority come 
from depths under 500 fathoms, but five are from the abysses of the ocean. Prof. 
Ehlers ^ was specially interested in finding Serpulidse from considerable depths in the 
collection made by the U.S. steamer “Blake,” viz., about 860 fathoms, especially as he 
had not found such in the materials from the “ Porcupine.” In the present series, 
however, we find that Serpula pliilippensis reaches 1050 fathoms, a Vermilia 1450 
fathoms, Placostegus challengericB 2375 fathoms, Placostegus ornatus 2900 fathoms, 
and Placostegus henthalianus the still greater depth of 3125 fathoms. Examples 
of the same genus, moroever, occur equally in shallow water as in the abysses of the 
Pacific. 
Schmarda gives eleven representatives of the family, mostly from shallow water or 
between tide-marks. Several come from coral reefs. Kinberg records five species. Grube 
mentions three in the Annulata (Erstediana, two in the collection of the “ Gazelle,” and 
seven in the Philippine series. An interesting resume of the genera included under the 
family is given by Marenzeller as an introduction to the description of the seven species 
from Southern Japan. His remarks in regard to the structure of the hooks in the various 
groups are both appropriate and useful. 
The food of the members of this family is the same as that of other Annelids. 
The absence of Spirographis [Cymospira), e.g., the well-known Cymospira gigantea, 
Pall., is remarkable. 
While Philippi’s view with regard to the diagnostic value of the operculum is note- 
worthy and merits his oj)inion that it has “ the advantage that it may still be frequently 
observed in dried specimens preserved in Museums,” much has to be added to it. 
For instance, the structure of the body- wall and the minute characters of the bristles and 
hooks are indispensable in modern work. Even Morch’s more recent Eevisio critica 
Serpulidarum ^ fails in the anatomical characters just mentioned. The remarks by 
Langerhans in his recent paper on the Serpulidse of Madeira® are noteworthy. He 
makes three types, the first including the genera Serpula, Eupomatos, Pomatoceros, 
and Placostegus, while near them are Protula and Psygmohranchus. The second type 
includes Filograna, Apomatus, Filogranula, Salmacina, SpirorMs, and Pileolaria ; while 
the third grou]3 is represented by Vermilia and Omplialoma. 
1 Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. v. p. 274, 1878-79. 
2 NaturhistorisJc Tidsshrift, June 1863, p. 347. 
3 Zeitschr. f. wiss. Zool., BcT. xl. pp. 273-275. Prof. Langerhans is a noble exainj)le of an invalid who has the 
courage to do valuable work under physical disadvantages. 
