OCR Text |
Show 1874.] MR. w. NATION ON SPERMOPHILA SIMPLEX. 329 fere, ceteris 4plo latioribus quam longa ; scuta ventralia alteram tantum fere latiora quam longa, sectionis anterioris haud bipar-tita. Branchia aquales, pallide lutea, fasciis maculisve nullis, semiorbes referentes, longitudine segmentorum anteriorum 32, lamina basali minus alta, \ longitudinis branchiarum adaquante; fila branchialia utrinque 13 (14) aque longa, apice nudo ^ longitudinis aquante, utrinque serie ocellorum punctiformium, a media branchiarum altitudine adscendente, ante apicem desinente instructa; ocelli nigri, simplices, rhachi profunde inserti, nume-rosi, plus triceni; barbula filorum haud flexuosa, ^ longitudinis eorum aquantes; membrana bases filorum conjungens, lamina basali altior; tentacula \ altitudinis branchiarum paulo supe-rantia ; collare humillimum, annulare, margine ventrali medio vix inciso, colore branchiarum. Tori uncinigeri sectionis anterioris lati, posterioris angustissimi; uncini aviculares, ordine simplici collocati; fasciculi setarum sectionis anterioris crassiores, posterioris tenuiores, utrinque setas capillares et paleas continentes, primus ceteris latior; seta capillares sectionis posterioris tener-rima, haud limbata, leniter curvata, anterioris fortiores ; palea disco suborbiculari, mucrone sublilissimo instructa, sectionis anterioris sub dena, disticha, posterioris quina. Longitudo animalis haud completi 42'5 m., branchiarum 13, sectionis corporis anterioris 4 m., posterioris 2 5 5 m. Sabella alticolli Gr. et S. phaotania Schmd. simillima, sed in descriptione hujus ocelli haud commemorantur, et branchiae fasciatse sunt, basi collarique fusco, in S. alticolli lamina basalis multo altior est et ocelli minus numerosi. 2. O n the Habits of Spermophila simplex. By W . NATION, C.M.Z.S. [Received May 15, 1874.] This plain-coloured Spermophila (lately described by M. Tacza-nowski *) is abundant near Lima, and, I believe, ranges a considerable distance north and south of Lima along the coast. It frequents shrubs and bushes bordering cultivated land and watercourses, and gardens. It feeds upon the seed of the numerous Malvacea which abound along the coast of Peru. In the breeding-season it is found singly or in pairs, and in winter in small parties with individuals of Zonotrichia pileata and Spermophila telasco. The nest, which is placed upon a branch of a low bush, is composed wholly of the fine twining stems and tendrils of Passiflora minima, with a few horsehairs for a lining. The eggs are three in number, greenish, blotched with pale brown, interspersed with a few deep-brown blotches. The habits, nest, and eggs of this bird differ considerably from those of Spermophila. In Spermophila we find a slenderer form, a * P. Z. S. 1874, p. 132. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1874, No. XXII. 22 |