REPORT ON THE ACTINIARIA' . 37 



Zoanthus confertus* Verrill (PI. I. fig. 12). 



Polyps with thin transparent body-wall, so closely packed as to be polygonally 

 flattened. 



Habitat. — Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope ; 10-20 fathoms. 



Dimensions. — Of the individual polyps — height, 06-0"8 cm. ; breadth, 0"3-0'4cm. 



The species is in general structure very close to the preceding, but differs in the thin 

 consistence of the body-wall, through which may be seen the mesenteries, and in the 

 compact arrangement of the polyps. The latter being consecpiently compressed 

 polyhedrally, a character of importance is afforded for the species, which is further 

 marked off by the transparence and delicacy of the body-wall. 



Genus Epizoanihus, Verrill. 



Integument incrusted, ccenenchyme (mostly ?) lamellar ; sphincter simple, meso- 

 gloeal ; mesenteries arranged on the macrotype ; colonies (mainly V) parasitic. 



Epizoanthus thalamophilus* n. sp. (PL I. fig. 3 ; PI. IV. figs. 7, 8). 



Incrustation scanty, exclusively composed of Foraminiferal shells, which are 

 arranged on the individual polyps into 15-20 longitudinal rows, bifurcating 

 downwards ; body-wall transparent ; tentacles 30-40, very long, and arranged in 

 two rows. 



Habitat. — Station 299, December 14, 1875 ; 2160 fathoms; on Gastropod shells. 



Dimensions. — Height of the contracted individuals, - 2-l - 3 cm. ; diameter at the 

 base, 0"9-l'5 cm. 



" The colony of seventeen individuals has settled on a deserted Fusus shell about 

 8 cm. long. The polyps are principally situated on the back of the shell, and only the 

 five young individuals at its apex are arranged in a whorl round it. The region round the 

 aperture of the shell is free from polyps ; they rise with elliptical bases from a common 

 ccenenchyme, and arch upwards like a dome. The largest specimens have a base of 

 10-15 mm. in diameter, and are 13 mm. high ; but we find every transition to the smallest 

 specimens, which appear as flat elongated projections with a base of 5-9 mm., and a 

 height of 1*5-3 mm. The ccenenchyme is a continuous sheet, 0*3-0*5 mm. in thickness, 

 which covers the shell as far as the colony reaches. Towards its termination it becomes 

 constantly thinner and more transparent, till it ends as a very delicate pellicle, which 

 may be easily rubbed off. All the polyps were in a highly contracted condition ; and 

 at the dome-shaped summit lies, on a prominence which is bounded by a circular furrow, 

 the entrance to the interior ; it is hardly recognisable as an opening, and is formed by 

 the indrawn parts of the body-wall. The latter is of slight thickness, so that the 



