“Terebellides strœmi, M. Sars, var. (Pl. XXIXA. figs. 3-6).
Terebellides strœmi, Sars, Beskrivelser og Jagttagelser, &c., p. 48, Tab. xiii. fig. 31, 1835.
Habitat.—Dredged at Station 47 (off the American coast, near New York), May 7, 1873 ; lat. 41° 14' N., long. 65° 45' W.; depth, 1340 fathoms ; surface temperature, 42°∙0 ; sea-bottom, blue mud.
An elongated example, measuring about 70 mm., and scarcely reaching 3 mm. in diameter in front at its widest part.
It agrees with the ordinary Terebellides strœmi, Sars, in general appearance, the only difference being the great length of the posterior region (behind the bristles), no less than fifty-two uncinigerous processes occurring on each side. The bristles are perhaps a little shorter and less attenuate than in a typical Terebellides strœmi from Norway. The anterior hooks (Pl. XXIXA. fig. 3) present a more distinct enlargement of the head, and a more decided constriction of the neck, features at once apparent on contrasting the former figure with the drawing of a hook from a large Norwegian example (Pl. XXIXA. fig. 5). The posterior hooks, again (Pl. XXIXA. fig. 4), differ in having the posterior curve less convex, and the anterior inferior angle less produced than in the Norwegian type (Pl. XXIXA. fig. 6). It is of course doubtful whether these slight differences indicate more than mere variation, but they are worthy of careful attention.
The greyish sand in the alimentary canal presents only a few sponge-spicules, one or two Diatoms, and Coccoliths.
The structure of the body-wall agrees with that in the British form. It differs from the type of the previous genera in having the nerve-cords within the circular coat.
The number of segments is an uncertain feature, though the proportion of the bristled to the others is of course more reliable. This species ranges from the European to the American shores.”
(McIntosh, 1885)
