shafts are stronger, and with less delicate and less numerously jointed tips. Some have
one or two rows of spines at the distal end of the shaft, and a bifid tip, with a claw and
secondary process, the joints ranging from one to three, the latter kind being inferior.
The delicate inferior group (below the lobule) have also one or two rows of spines on
the distal end of the shaft, a long tapering terminal process of six or seven joints, and a
bifid tip. The subulate ventral cirrus extends nearly to the tip of the fleshy part of the
foot.
S ynonym.
1876. Sthenelais Jeffreysii, McIntosh. Trans. Zool. Soc., vol. ix, p. 406, pi. lxxii, f. 18, 19; pi. lxxiii,
f. 1 and 2.
Habitat.—Dredged in the Atlantic off the west coast of Ireland (Galway) in lat.
53° 16' N., and long. 12° 42' W., in 165 fathoms, Station 9, ‘ Porcupine,’ 1869.
Head (Plate XXIX, fig. 4) broadly ovate, with a median ridge running forward to the
base of the tentacle, which is a tapering organ, longer and thicker than that of 8. limi-
cola. The lateral regions of the head form smooth ovoid lobes. No eyes are visible in
the preparation. The first foot carries the following organs: dorsally the lateral
tentacle (of some length) inside the bristle-bundle, and externally the dorsal cirrus, both
reaching in spirit beyond the tips of the bristles. Just beneath the former is the
lamellar process, while ventrally is the shorter and more slender ventral cirrus. The
long, smooth, tapering palpus with the sheath-like lamella at the base—superiorly and
internally—arises from the ventral aspect of the process. The structure of the parts
thus diverges from that in S. limicola, and leans to those with more numerous processes,
as for instance S. boa.
Body narrow, probably about two inches long, and with numerous segments.
Scales (Plate XXXIY, fig. 13).—First pair rounded, the rest more or less reniform,
and all smooth, translucent, and devoid of pigment in the preparations. On the external
border are long, slightly tapered papillae, perhaps more numerous in the anterior scales,
becoming fewer as we proceed backwards, and finally in the posterior scales disappearing
altogether,—that is to say, if the first form agrees with the closely allied Norwegian
species. The number of cilia (Plate XLII, fig. 5) on the external border thus varies, ten
being a usual number anteriorly, and their great length is in contrast with those of 8.
boa (Plate XXXIII, fig. 16). In the latter the edge of the scale has been doubled, so
as to show (somewhat out of focus) the smaller papillae on the surface.
Feet (Plate XXXI, fig. 7).—Superiorly is the long branchial process, and three
ciliated pads (ctenidia) along the dorsal edge. The dorsal lobe is somewhat clavate,
bevelled at the tip superiorly, and bears three papillae, one at its tip, one projecting
from the upper bevelled region, and another near it—the two latter springing from the
anterior aspect of the foot, and a tuft of the usual slender bristles with fine and rather
closely set rows of spines. The ventral division is somewhat conical at the tip, and has
one or two mammillary papillae at the apex to which the spine goes, and one on each of
the lobes—superiorly and inferiorly. These are generally constricted at the base. The
superior ventral bristles are somewhat slender, have four rows of spines on the enlarged
distal ends of the shafts, and a most delicate tapering terminal process with a hair-like
tip, and comprising fourteen or fifteen segments, the basal being much longer than the
others (Plate XLII, fig. 6, which shows a bristle somewhat compressed by others). Below
the spine are some with shafts considerably stronger, and with less delicate and less
numerously jointed tips, which, however, end in a fine point. From the spine to the
inferior lobule of the foot somewhat strong shafts of similar character are distributed,
the inferior especially showing one or two rows of spines on the dilated distal region,
while the terminal processes are of several kinds. The upper have a single terminal
division consisting of a segment with a well-marked claw and secondary process which
fills up the concavity. Just above the inferior lobule of the division are some with three
segments in the terminal region, viz. a basal two thirds the entire length, and two short
distal articulations, the last with a claw. A few have only two segments (Plate XLII,
fig. 7). The inferior series, arising below the lower lobule, are delicate translucent
bristles, having one or two rows of spines on the distal part of the shaft, and a long
terminal process of six or seven articulations (Plate XLII, fig. 8), the secondary process
filling up the hollow. Yentrally three series thus occur : (1) the stronger superior with
tapering filiform tips; (2) the stout shafts with the short tips, of one, two, or three
articulations; and (3) the slender inferior with long, tapering, bifid tips. All are very
delicate and translucent, and the basal region of the terminal process is often wrinkled.
The necessity fpr carefully regarding the nature of the bristles is well illustrated in
a very closely allied form brought by Canon Norman from Norway, and which in almost
all its characters corresponded with the present species. A glance at the bristles of the
Norwegian form showed that the dorsal series were much denser; the upper ventral
series had nine or ten rows of spines at the distal end of the shaft, and a short acutely
pointed terminal region of nearly a dozen segments. A series with more numerously
jointed (eighteen to twenty articulations) and finely tapered tips followed, the shafts having
two or three articulations in the upper examples, the rest being smooth; then a
group with a single distal segment ending in a well-marked claw and secondary process ;
below was a group with similar shafts, but with tapering jointed terminal pieces ending
in a hair-like tip ; finally, the ventral series consisted of delicate bristles, with a slender
terminal region of about five articulations and a bifid tip. The differentiation thus at
every step was made clear.
The ventral cirrus is subulate, with an articulation at the tip, and extends nearly as
far as the end of the fleshy part of the foot.
Habits.—Only a single example has been obtained, so that it would not seem to
stretch to shallower waters. Where so much difficulty exists in capture and examination
it is unsafe, however, to make statements on this head. The species is sufficiently
defined, and sh'ould easily be identified. I t probably frequents a sandy bottom.
This form clearly leads through Eusthenelais to Leanira.