The head (Plate XXVII, fig. 15) of this species is distinguished by its somewhat
ovoid outline and the prominent peaks in front. The eyes are of moderate size—two on
the dorsum posteriorly in front of the nuchal fold and quite within the margin of the
head, and two at the outer and under surface" of the peaks, so that they look forward
and slightly outward. The median tentacle is of moderate length, and tapers from the
base towards the tip, which is filiform and densely covered with rather long cilia having
slightly bulbous tips. Scarcely a perceptible swelling in the preparations occurs below
the tip. The cilia diminish in length distally, but extend along part of the filiform tip.
The lateral tentacles arise below and somewhat external to the- median, are short, and
taper from the base to the filiform extremity. Short cilia occur on the surface and on
the filiform extremity as small papillæ.
The tentacular cirri are similar to the median tentacle. The palpi are of moderate
length, gently tapered from the base to near the apex,' which is filiform, though short.
They have densely crowded rows of clavate papillæ—more slender than in Harmothoë
imbricata, and which gradually diminish from below upwards..
The body presents the usual slight convexity dorsally with the transverse depression
in each segment—especially marked behind the proboscidian region. Moreover much
of the body is of uniform breadth. Ventrally a central depressed area occurs in spirit,
with lateral elevations, from which the rather small segmental processes project between
the feet. Posteriorly it terminates in the caudal cirri.
Proboscis.—The proboscis is less massively muscular than in Lagisca or Harmothoë
imbricata, and the horny teeth are smaller ; indeed, they may be-called minute. The
horny ridges are also less prominent. The terminal papillæ of the organ agree with
those in Harmothoë.
In the peripharyngeal space only one short pregastric cæcum goes forward to the
second segment in front of the stomach. The second is nearly transverse. The
reduction of the cæca is thus a marked feature.
The scales (Plate XXXII, fig. 17) are somewhat stiff and leathery, especially in
front. The first pair are more or less rounded, and thipkened by the numerous large
chitinous areas terminating in the blunt spines, which are minutely nodular with short
chitinous spikes. The surface of the scale is further cut into definite areas by a series of
chitinous reticulations which enclose the space occupied by each bluntly conical spine,
and consequently in this (the first scale) irregular hexagons, pentagons, or similar
figures occur in the central region round the large bosses, while the margin is cut into
longer areas with intermediate small triangles^-for spines—at the edge. Moreover the
right or upper differs from the left or under scale, the former corresponding more
particularly with the description, while the latter in the region overlapped by the former
is thinner, and has numerous smaller reticulations enclosing a diminishing series of horny
papillæ from the central region of larger spines to the edge. The latter is also smooth,
but, with this exception, the edge has cilia all round, and of considerable length as well
as more numerous at the outer margin. The right. or upper first scale shows a
continuous series of marginal cilia.: The succeeding scales are more or less reniform or
somewhat ovate, according to their position, while the last are almost D^shaped. Their
general structure is similar, viz. the anterior and inner edge, that overlapped, being more
or less thin and smooth; then the small papillae stud the surface, and gradually increase
in size towards the posterior and outer edges. The border is formed of the long ridges
terminating in the marginal, blunt, spinous papilla. The smaller rounded bases of the
chitinous papillae internally are so closely arranged that they resemble the shields in
certain regions of an armadillo. Moreover, whereas in the first scales the chitinous lines
which bifurcate to form the triangular areas of thé margin are simple, in the rest they
form a complex and continuous series of reticulations somewhat resembling those in the
skins of holothurians (Plate XXXIII, fig. 3). The minutely nodular or caespitose
condition of the chitinous spines is a marked feature throughout. The posterior
border has cilia of considerable length internally, then they diminish along the
posterior edge, again elongating on approaching the outer border, where they form a
long, dense fringe. The bulbous tip is minutely granular in its centre, and is continuous
with-the central axis of the cilium. The under surface of the scale is iridescent, with a
well-marked scar for attachment somewhat nearer the outer than the inner border. The
scales separate readily. Occasionally a small patch of Cellepöra is found on a scale.
Colour.—rThe dorsum has a light brownish or amber hue from the scales, the
posterior part of each of the latter being somewhat darker. The pinkish hue of the
body occasionally shines through these. The cirri are pale. The under surface is
iridescent bluish-pink, as in Polynoë scolopendrina. Ray Lankester speaks of the head as
being violet, and the palps deep madder-brown. In spirit they are dark greyish, streaked
with the lines of cilia. Towards the posterior end the dorsum has various transverse
streaks of dark greyish (in spirit). In rather more, than the posterior third also a dark
touch occurs on each side of the base of the dorsal cirri, and there is a tendency for the
elevations in a line with the tubercles for the scales to have a touch of the same colour.
The pigment thus seems to be connected with the cirrigerous feet, and consequently is
best developed behind the last scale-tubercle. On the ventral surface the posterior
third presents dark pigment touches on the segmental eminences, and the tint increases
in depth posteriorly, spreading outward on the bases of the feet. A touch or two of
pigment also occur on the anterior folds of the mouth.
Feet.—The modified dorsal bristles of the first foot have smooth tips. The second
foot is small, with a flipper- or paddle-shaped fleshy region dorsally, the inferior margin
terminating in the long papilla for the spine. The bristles, though short, are typical in
structure. The ventral division is somewhat conical, terminating in the pointed region
for the spine, and from the tip of this process a long cutaneous papilla projects. The
bristles are slender with elongated curved spinous tips.
The third foot shows a considerable increase in the size of both dorsal and ventral
bristles. The ventral are still proportionally slender, but the majority have bifid tips,
only the lower short forms having simple tips. The ventral cirrus has large clavate cilia.
The papilla beyond the spine is present.
The fourth foot approaches the typical condition except that the number of simple
bristles inferiorly is greater.
In the typical foot (Plate XXX, fig. 3) the superior division has a somewhat conspicuous
tuft of elongate, slightly curved bristles externally, and shorter and more curved
forms internally (Plate XXXIX, fig. 17). The spinous rows are dense. The tip has a
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