120 



red ; GONOPHORES on much-branched peduncles, forming 

 large clusters, oval, with 4 small tubercles at the upper 

 extremity when mature. 

 Height 3 to 3 inches. 



THIS species grows in complicated masses formed of very 

 slender, light-coloured, interlacing tubes. The stems are 

 often much and irregularly branched, especially towards 

 the lower extremity. They are for the most part perfectly 

 smooth; but here and there a few distinct annulations 

 occur, and there is sometimes a good deal of obscure 

 wrinkling. The polypites are large and handsome, and the 

 long branched clusters of gonophores with their red centres 

 form a conspicuous feature. 



This species has been fully investigated by Van Beneden*. 

 He states that the young, on exclusion from the gono- 

 phore, has usually twelve long arms, but he has observed 

 as few as six. The oral tentacles, in the cases that came 

 under his observation, were not developed until some time 

 after the embryo had made its escape. It appears, how- 

 ever, from the observations of Sars, that they are sometimes 

 present in a rudimentary state at the period of liberation. 

 Indeed the embryos seem to be excluded in very various 

 stages of development. The gonophores contain simple 

 sporosacs with four inconspicuous tubercles at the summit. 



The T. gracilis of Harvey is probably identical with the 

 present species ; but his description leaves some room for 

 doubt. 



Hob. Generally in deep water. Shetland ( J. G. Jeifreys) : 

 Northumbei'land, " on corallines and other marine sub- 

 stances, generally on a muddy bottom, in the coralline zone 

 and deep water" (J. A.): Lytham, Lancashire, in great 

 profusion, cast ashore in large compact masses (T. H.). 



* Faune littor. cle Belgique, Polypes, 186(3, p. 110. pi. iy. 



