median groove, which trends outward in front to terminate in the peaks on each side of
the median tentacle. The eyes are large and black, two being situated a little in front
of the nuchal fold, and slightly lateral in position, and two in front of the lateral
projection of the head, and also more or less lateral in position. Both pairs are thus
only fully seen in side view. No example has a median tentacle. The lateral tentacles
arise under-its base, and are short organs with a trace of an enlargement below the
slender tip, and. somewhat closely ciliated.. The palpi, which are of moderate length,
show mmute- cylindrical papillae in certain parts, but seem to be mostly smooth.
Segmental papilla slender and somewhat long anteriorly, short posteriorly; directed
upwards between the feet.
Body flattened and proportionally broad, slightly narrowed towards the head, and
more distinctly posteriorly, where it is terminated by the two subanal cirri. The dorsum
presents no feature of note. "Ventrally the segmental papilla is slender and small,
arising from an elevation close to the posterior border of each foot. These rounded
elevations form a moniliform series along each side of the body. The tcirri are
comparatively slender and short.
The colour in the spirit-preparations has mostly disappeared, only one showing a
few brownish transverse bars anteriorly on the dorsum, and a slightly brownish hue on.
the anterior folds of the mouth. The palpi have a curious greenish-grey colour, while a
trace of brown remains on the cephalic appendages, the dorsal cirri, and the first (long)
ventral cirrus. The anterior scales are brownish grey, with the brown spines standing
prominently outward.
Scales (Plate XXXII, fig. 4).—The first pair are more or less rounded, and studded
chiefly at the margin with the horny spines, the intervening spaces being often coated
with mud and parasitic growths. The scales generally are by no means thick, but are
covered with the chitinous papillae or bosses, small towards the anterior edge, but rising
into the long spinous processes posteriorly (Plate XXXIII, fig. 3). These processes
terminate in a bifid, trifid, quadrifid, or quinquefid tip. The central axis of each is
cellulo-granular. From the inner to the outer margin also a few slender cilia with
clavate tips are present. The; majority of the scales are more or less reniform, but
posteriorly the last pair become ovoid, with the same structure of spines and cilia.
The under surface is smooth and iridescent, with the scar for attachment somewhat
nearer the anterior than the posterior border, and more distant from the inner than
the outer margin. The scales are easily removed.
Feet.—The first (with the tentacular cirri) has three bristles? which conform to the
type of the dorsal bristles, only they are proportionally shorter and more curved.
In the second foot the dorsal bristles are stout and have boldly marked spinous rows
which in lateral view follow slightly oblique lines across the shaft. They are formed
by a thin chitinous plate split into the spines or teeth, somewhat after the fashion of the
ctenidial rows in Pleit/robrachia, and increase in size from the dorsal to the ventral
surface of the bristle. The terminal region of the bristle is smooth. The ventral
bristles are very slender, with long tips having alternate spinous rows, the extremities
being slender and slightly hooked. The long ventral cirrus has moderately long clavate
cilia.
The usual gradations occur till the typical foot is reached (Plate XLII, fig. 29).
I t is characterised by the long and strong dorsal bristles (Plate XXXVII, fig. 28),.
which almost reach as far as the tips of the ventral. They are for the most, part'stiff,
straight, and gently tapered bristles, those at the inner edge of the tuft being shorter
and slightly curved. The spinous rows are well marked from a short distance above
the free edge to the extremity, which is pointed and smooth. The ventral division of
the foot is less acute than in front, the tip being almost fan-shaped, with the spine at the
upper border. The bristles have long straight shafts, while the tips are slightly dilated
at the commencement of the spinous region, have somewhat short bare tips of moderate
breadth, a well-marked hook at the extremity, and in some, especially at the upper
third of the series, a minute spur beneath (Plate XXXVII, figs. 29 and 30). The
great density of the dorsal bristle-tufts gives the animal a woolly appearance, and in
some they are tinted of a ferruginous hue from adherent growths. The ventral cirrus
does not reach the tip of the fleshy part of the foot, and has short clavate cilia.
In the terminal feet a similar condition to that in front exists, though the dorsal
bristles as a whole are more tapered. Their spinous rows are very distinct. The
ventral bristles in the last foot are attenuate. Parasitic algae are frequent on the
bristles.
The segmental (nephridial) papilla becomes distinct about the sixth foot.
Reproduction.—One example (Canon Norman’s) from Norway, in July, 1878, shows
numerous ova in the perivisceral space.
The presence, of a minute tooth below the tip of the ventral bristles shows the
proximity of the present species to the genus Harmotho'e and its allies. This spur had
escaped the notice of Malmgren.
I t is allied to Harmotho'e areolata, G-rube, but the latter differs in the more regular
arrangement of the surface of the scale, the fewer though larger and less acute spines,
the exquisite reticulation around them, and the much more numerous cilia of the outer
and inner borders. I t seems to be rare in Britain, though the example from the Clyde
is of comparatively large size.
Acanthicolepis asperrima was first described by the elder Sars from specimens procured
a few miles north of Bergen, a region which has been rendered classic to zoologists
by his labours and by those of his successors. Recently no one has done more in
collecting the annelids of the same region than Canon Norman.
Genus XIII.—H armothoe (Kinberg, 1857),1 char. em.
Body not much elongated. Lateral tentacles fixed below the median. Palpi with
rows of minute truncate papillae. Eyes four; two at the peaks in front, two posterior
on the dorsum in front of the collar. Scales fifteen pairs, covering the whole of the
• 1 Kinberg described the genus thus :—Cephalic lobe narrow anteriorly. Base of the tentacle
occupying the fissure of the cephalic lobe. Bases of the antennas fixed under the base of the tentacle.
Pharynx with ■§■ papillae and jaws. Elytra fifteen, covering the dorsum to the end of the body.
Body not long.