and placed in front of the nuchal collar. The palpi appear to be smooth under a
low power, but when magnified 350 diameters are minutely papillose. The median
tentacle is absent. The lateral are small, somewhat enlarged at the base, and with a
filiform tip. They have a few short clavate cilia. According to Sars the tentacular
cirri also have a few clavate cilia.
Body has forty-three bristled segments (Sars). The only available British example
is fragmentary. The segmental eminence is distinct, but the indifferent preparation
showed no differentiated papilla.
Scales have, so far as present, a somewhat ovoid outline (Plate XXXIII, fig. 9),
with the exception of the first pair, which are rounded. The outer and posterior borders
have slender clavate cilia, which are longest externally, becoming short and sparse as
we proceed inward. Their entire surface is closely covered with short, blunt, and rather
soft spines, and thus they differ in certain respects from the figure and description
of Sars.
Feet.—The first foot has a sharp spine and a group of four small bristles conforming
to the dorsal series.
The typical foot presents dorsally a series of rather large, long, yellowish bristles,
which, though as conspicuous in size as those of A. finmarchica, are much less acutely
tapered, and have closer rows of spines. They are slightly curved (Plate XL, fig. 12).
The superior ventral bristles have somewhat shorter tips than in A. finmarchica, and
the rows of spines are not so distinctly separated. The tip is similar, viz. slightly
hooked; but the spines become so elongated towards the tip thatthey project on each
side like a series of filaments (Plate XL, figs. 13 and 14).
No dorsal cirri are present, but the ventral cirri are long and filiform with short
clavate cilia.
This form appears to present the following differences from the species described by
Sars :—The anterior pair of eyes lie in front of the middle of the head, and are not visible
from the dorsum, whereas in the Norwegian form they are situated on the median lateral
eminence, and therefore considerably removed from the front. They are also seen from
the dorsum. The posterior pair of eyes are less widely separated in the British form.
It is difficult to compare the bristles, since some of the finer characters are lost in the
kind of plate adopted by Professor Sars, but they closely approach each other. The
scales, on the other hand, present certain divergences, e. g. in the presence of only
minute cilia in the northern form.
Genus XYI.—P h y l l a n t in o e , McIntosh, 1876.
Head short and broad; base (ceratophore) of the median tentacle passing far
backward between the prominent anterior peaks. Anterior pair of eyes much larger
than the posterior; pairs separated by a brief interval.
Dorsal bristles short, stout, translucent, with prominent and close rows of spines,
and a short, acute, smooth tip. Ventral bristles extremely slender; spinous region long
and tapering, tips .simple.
In the absence of accurate information concerning the relations of such rare forms
to the epitocous condition of species perhaps elsewhere described, it has been deemed
prudent to continue the generic distinctions. The large size of the eyes and the
slenderness of the ventral bristles may be associated with sexual changes.
P h y l l a n t in o e m o l l i s , McIntosh, 1876.
Specific Characters.—Head short and broad, the base of the' median tentacle passing
far backward between the prominent and acute anterior peaks. Byes large, especially
the anterior pair, the pigment in which is crescentic in the preparation, and placed on
the median lateral prominence. The posterior pair are smaller, and lie in front of the
nuchal collar. The pairs are separated by a brief interval. The fragmentary example
has about forty bristled segments, the body being elongate, and tapering much posteriorly.
The dorsum has brownish pigment, which posteriorly is regularly arranged in
the segments. Segmental eminence prominent, but papilla minute. Dorsal bristles
short, stout, translucent, considerably curved, with prominent and somewhat close rows
of spines, the tip having a short, acute, smooth region. Ventral bristles translucent,
extremely slender; the spinous region rather long and tapering, with a short smooth
portion at the tip, which is simple and slightly bent. The spinous rows are distinct but
somewhat close.
S ynonym.
1876. Phyllantinoe mollis, McIntosh. Trans. Z. S., ix, vii, p. 401, pi. lxxii, f. 5 and 6.
Habitat.—Dredged in 539 fathoms in the Atlantic during the ‘ Porcupine ’ Expedition
of 1870.
Length.—The fragmentary specimen measured about f inch.
Head (Plate XXVII, fig. 18) in the preparation is shorter than broad, the base of
the median tentacle passing a considerable distance backward between the prominent
and acute anterior peaks. The four eyes are visible from the dorsum. The anterior
pair are unusually large, crescentic in form, and situated on the median lateral prominence
of the head. Their form would suggest the occurrence of a lens-like corneal
thickening in the concavity in front, but the preparation is uncertain on this point.
These eyes look forward, outward, and slightly upward. The posterior pair are smaller,
but still of comparatively large size, and lie in front of the nuchal collar. They are
more or less rounded, with traces of lenses. The pairs of eyes are separated by a brief
interval, as in Evarne. All the cephalic appendages are absent.
Body.—The fragmentary example showed about forty segments, besides head and
tail. It is characteristically elongated, and tapers much posteriorly. The whole body
is soft and delicate, and the feet comparatively short. The dorsum has a brownish
colour throughout, and the pigment posteriorly is somewhat regularly disposed in the
segments. The segmental eminence is prominent, but so far as could be made out the
papilla is short and small. The ventral surface has the usual pale iridescence.
No scales are present.
Feet.—The structure of the feet could not fully be made out, as the condition of the
specimen was unfavourable, k but they seem to have proportionally short fleshy lobes.