THE PLUMULAKID/E. fil 



The specimens secured by the Albatross agree with the descriptions and figures given by 

 Johnston and Biucks in every particular except the size of the colony, which is less than hall' that 

 of the British specimens as recorded by the authorities just named. 



PLUMULARIA GEMINATA Allman. 

 (Plate III, figs. 3. 4.) 



PlumuJaria geminata ALLMAN, Mem. Mus. Omp. Xnol., 1X77, V, No. 2, p. 32, pi. x.x. 

 I'liimuJaria gemintita CLAISK, Hull. Mus. Coinp. Zoo}., 187!>, V, No. 10, p. 247. 

 I'lumnlaria geminntav.\\K'ES, Bull. Mus. Comp. 7ool., 18X1, VIII, No. 7. ]>. 12X. 



Trophosome. Colony attaining a height of about 1 inch, dichotomously branched; stem not 

 fascicled, the hydrocladia bearing portion being divided into alternating longer and shorter inter- 

 nodes, the shorter bearing each a pair of hydrocladia and a hydiotheca on its anterior face; 

 hydrocladia opposite, placed on the anterior face of the stem and directed forward, thus lying in 

 two planes. Internodes and hydrotheca' as in P.calliarina; nematophores also as in /'. cutharina, 

 but Allman's figure does not show any mesial nernatophore at the base of each hydrotheca. 



Gonosome. Gouaugia pyriform. The two sexes have not been described. 



Distribution. Off Sand Key, Florida, 120 fathoms (Allniau); Barbados, 70 fathoms, Blake; 

 off American Shoal Light, Florida, 70 to 80 fathoms, State University of Iowa Expedition; 

 Albatross Station 2416, lat. K 31 21!', long. W. 79 07', 270 fathoms; Albatross Station 2<)0'J, lat. 

 N. Sio 09', long. W. 79 33', 352 fathoms. 



This is a species of somewhat doubtful validity. The position of the hydrocladia and their 

 being anteriorly directed is a character of little or no value, as, in another species, /'. i-larleei, it 

 seems lo be due to the stage of development of the individual colony. The dichotomous mode of 

 branching, however, may be a specific character, and it is on this ground mainly that the species 

 is here retained. 



Type. In the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 



PLUMULARIA CLARKEI Nutting. 



(Plat.- Ill, tig. 5.) 

 I'ltimularia gracilin CLAKKK,' Bull. Mus. C'onip. Zoo] ., 1X77, V, No. 10, p. 246, pi. v. 



Trophosomv. Colony attaining a height of H inches, growing in tufts of plumose branches; 

 stem not fascicled, divided into often obscure internodes of equal length separated 'by oblique 

 nodes, and each bearing a pair of hydrocladia and a hydrotheca on the proximal end; hydrocladia 

 opposite, borne either on the sides of stem and lying in the same plane, or on the front of the 

 stem and lying in different planes; hydrocladia divided into indistinct and irregular interuodes, 

 or the nodes may apparently be wanting, llydrothecse as in Pltnnulariu i-nHnirinn; lateral 

 nematophores borne on processes of the hydrocladia and attaining the level of the top of the 

 hydrotheca'; mesial nematophores, usually three between adjacent hydrotheca;; an irregular row 

 of cauliue nematophores along the front of the stem. 



Gonosome. Gonophores as in Plitmularia catharina. 



Distribution. Off Habana, 175 fathoms, Blalte ; Albatross Station -'327, lat. N. 23 11' 45", 

 long. W. 82 17' 54", 182 fathoms; off Habana, State University of Iowa Expedition. 



The distinguishing feature of this species is the tendency to obliteration of the nodes, both of 

 the main stem and of the hydrocladia, a very constant character of all specimens that I have exam- 

 ined from the north coast of Cuba. 



The three species, P. catharina, P. geminatti, and /'. clarkei, form a most perplexing group 

 which may eventually be combined in a single species For the present, however, I do not deem 

 it advisable, in view of the absence of intergrading forms between the dichotomous branching of 

 geminata and the tufted colonies of the other two on the one hand, and the very marked nodes of 

 catharina and geminata and the obliteration of most of the nodes of chtrkei. 



Type. In the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts (labeled Plumu- 

 laria gracilis Clarke). 



1 The name Flumiilaria i/racili.t was preoccupied by De Blainville in 1X34, Manuel d'Actiuologie, p. 479. See also 

 Lamarck, Histoire Naturelle des Animaux suns Verti-bres, 2d ed., II. p. 107. 



