342 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Sphaerosyllis jortuita and Pionosyllis manca (a new species) are represented by 
single specimens taken just outside of the bay. 
A new species, Myriana cirrata, was taken frequently in the extreme southern 
part of the bay (areas A, E, F, and G) during the July, August (1920), and the March- 
April (1921) cruises. It occurred in water that varied in salinity and temperature 
from 25.23 to 30.39 per mille and 11.5° C. to 21.9° C. It was found at various depths 
from 16 to 46 meters. The bottom in this region was largely of sand and mud, with 
some shells. 
The two species of Autolytus were not found abundantly. Of these, Autolytus 
hesperidium, which has been reported previously from New Jersey and Virginia living 
on seaweed and shells, was collected on one occasion only. It was taken from area D, 
off New Point Comfort, during the January 1921 cruise. The depth was 10 meters, 
and the salinity and temperature of the water were 23.39 per mille and 4.8° C. The 
other species A. solitarius, has been reported heretofore only from Maine. In the 
Chesapeake it was dredged in the mouth of the bay and off Barren Island, which is 
about midway between the head and the mouth of the bay. Evidently it is able to 
live in waters of widely differing salinities and temperatures. It was collected during 
the October 1920 cruise at depths ranging from 23 to 48 meters. 
Nereis dumerilii, a European form, which has been collected along the Atlantic 
coast of America from the coast of Virginia and from the region of Woods Hole, was 
found in the lower half of Chesapeake Bay. It was collected from these localities 
(areas 0, F, and B) during the July, August, and October (1920) cruises. The records 
show that the specimens collected were living in water the salinity and temperature 
of which ranged from 17.70 to 31.08 per mille and 17.3° C. to 24.8° C. They were 
dredged from depths of 8 to 48 meters. 
Nereis limbata, which is generally considered as a littoral form frequenting foul and 
brackish waters (Sumner, Osburn, and Cole, 1913, p. 124), was the most common 
annelid in the Chesapeake collection according to Treadwell. It has been reported 
from various places from South Carolina to Maine. Webster (1879, p. 36) considers 
it as the only annelid that can live in the soft mud of brackish-water regions. In the 
Chesapeake it was taken many times at areas which were in the upper half of the bay. 
Only in a few cases were specimens captured near the mouth of the bay. Apparently 
this species thrives in muddy regions in Chesapeake Bay, but it has been taken also 
from some areas where the bottom was sandy or shelly. Almost invariably the speci- 
mens were found in water the salinity of which was not more than 20.00 per mille 
(9.00 to 20.00 per mille) but in a few cases the salinity was higher. N. limbata was 
taken many times during each of the cruises (July, August, October, December, 1920, 
and January, March-April, 1921) in water varying from 1.9° C. to 25.2° C. Most of 
the specimens were found in shallow water, seldom deeper than 15 meters, but the 
whole series of depths ranges between 7 and 38 meters. 
Lumbrineries tenuis is an inhabitant of compact mixtures of mud and sand 
according to Verrill (1873, p. 342), who found it abundant in the region of Vineyard 
Sound. It has been reported from several localities (Virginia to Massachusetts), 
but in small numbers. No specimens were dredged inside of the bay, but just out- 
side on the 20-fathom line one specimen was taken in August, 1920, in water of 33.58 
per mille salinity and 8.9° C. temperature. 
Arabella opalina, which has been found commonly along the Atlantic coast of 
the United States and in great numbers in quiet bays and creeks (Andrews, 1891), 
was dredged once only in Chesapeake Bay, and then at area G in the mouth of the 
