POLYCMTA -BENHAM. 
97 
Family AM PHARETIDAE. 
Genus Phyllocomus Grube* * 
Phyllocomus dibranchiata sp. nov. 
(Plate 10, figs. 107-123.) 
A worm which was dredged from a depth of 157 fathoms, seems to form the 
type of a new species of this rare genus. 
It is distinctly differentiated into thorax and abdomen, the former bearing both 
notopodial chsetse and uncinigeious neuiopods, the latter presenting only the 
neuropods, which project laterally like wings o: oars. 
The specimen (fig. 107) is very well preserved, and appears to be strongly 
contracted anteriorly ; it is a pale yellowish colour, while the parapods and glands are 
pale brownish and the ventral surface of the abdomen rather darker. 
It is fortunately complete, though the hinder end appears to be regenerated, as 
no uncini can be detected on the last ten segments. 
Its total length is 45 mm., with a width of 11 mm. anteriorly and a height of 
8 mm. The body tapers backwards slowly, so that at the commencement of the 
abdomen it measures 6 mm. in width. 
The worm contains 60 segments, with head and anal funnel, which is surrounded 
by a number of short cirri (fig. 115). There are 15 notopods with long pale yellow 
chsetae; 14 of these thoracic segments are glandular across the whole ventral surface, 
though distinct gland shields are not evident. The anterior glands spread from the 
neuropods of one side to those of the other, which are here separated by a space of 
8 mm. The last three or four are traversed by a definite furrow in the middle line. 
There are indications of two additional glands behind these. 
The head (figs. 108, 109) is very obliquely truncated, so that its anterior face is 
nearly vertical; the prostomium has the form of a sub-circular plate sloping downwards 
from the dorsal surface of the body, nearly at right angles to the body axis; the lower 
extremity of this plate is free, and its edge is thin. This prostomial plate is of firm 
consistency, almost chitinoid; it is tinted in the middle with reddish brown pigment, 
is slightly convex from side to side in its middle, and slightly concave from its front 
backwards, so that its free rounded edge projects horizontally. 
On each side, between the prostomial plate and the curved peristomial ridge, is 
a narrow elongated depression from which a slight papilliform elevation rises. Grube 
suggests that this is a secretory organ; perhaps, however, it represents the ciliated 
*“ Phyllocomus ” looks like a masculine word and appears to refer to the “ foliaceous ” form of the gill ; but Grube 
uses the feminine “ crocea ” for the species. I therefore consulted my Classical colleague, Professor Adams, who informs 
me that there is a rare Greek word “ komos ” meaning a “ bundle or sheaf,” which is feminine : presumably Grube used 
this rare word. 
*83892—N 
