PENNATULIDA. 



In the group Pennatulece, the genus Halisceptrum Herkl. will have to be removed from the 

 family Pennatulidm to the family Virgularidm\ it is quite obvious that this genus is closely related 

 to the genus Virgularia itself; perhaps it might even be embodied into it (see later under Virgularia)\ 

 further the genera of the family Stylatulidm show so close a resemblance to Virgularia, that they can 

 scarcely be regarded as forming a separate family ; they are certainly more closely related to the genus 

 Virgularia than this genus is to the genera Scytalium Herkl. and Parovaria K611. ; on the other hand, 

 I should be inclined to separate these latter genera into a separate family (or, at all events, a sub- 

 family) characterized -- in contradistinction to Virgularia and the Stylatulids (with the exception of 

 Acanthoptilum) — among other things by the fact that the sexual organs are only developed in the 

 fully formed polyps of the older wings, and that new polyps, at an}' rate in the younger forms, bud 

 out on the upper, older part of the rhachis; in this family Pavonaridm mihi must further be included a 

 member of the group Spicatm, viz. the genus Halipteris Koll., although its polyps are not united into 

 wings; but in most other features it shows the greatest resemblance to Pavonaria Koll., much more 

 than to Funiculina, with which it has been placed by Kolliker. The genus .SVv?r'« Kor. Dan., which 

 Studer has referred to the Stylatulids, Delage & Herouard to their Virgularincr, will have to be 

 dropped as a genus; it is only a species of the genus Virgularia; Lygus, which in Del. & Her. is 

 given as a separate genus, is synonymous with Virgularia; and Radicipes Stearns (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 

 Vol.6, 1883, p. 96, PI. MI) is no sea-pen at all, but a Gorgonid (a species of Strophogorgia Perc. Wr.); 

 the genera of Gray: Ptilella , PJiosphorclla, Crispclla (the family Pennatulinm Del. & Her.), and 

 Argentella (of their Pteroeideidinm) have already, and certainly rightly, been condemned by Kolliker 

 in his monograph. Further, the genus Stachyptilum Koll., in my opinion, is to be included in the 

 family Pennatulidm. 



In the group Spicatir of Kolliker (== Umbellina -\- Juncina — the family Veretillinm in Del. &. 

 Her.) the greatest alterations will have to be made. In the first place the whole family Protocaulid,c 

 must be done away with: two of its genera, Protocaulon Koll. and Dctttocaulou Marsh. & Fowl., because 

 they are young stages of Virgularia-spedes, Cla discus Kor. Dan., because it is only a (wrongly inter- 

 preted) species of Virgularia, in reality identical with Svava Kor. Dan. (for further particulars see 

 under Virgularia mirabilis and V. cladiscus mihi). Consequently, all inquiry may be omitted with 

 regard to the question whether Cladiscus > is to be included in Protoptilida- or Protocaulidir, and 

 whether Protocaulon and Deutocaulon, as has been done by Del. &. Her., may be placed under the 

 family Kophobelemnoninm. 



Again, most members of the family Proloptilida: must be dropped as separate genera. Lygo- 

 morpha Kor. Dan. is a young form of Halipteris (for further particulars see under H. cAristii); Microp- 

 liluui Koll. of Pavonaria; Leptoptilum Koll. and Trichoptilum Koll. are young forms of Funiculina (see 

 under this latter); Gunneria Kor. Dan., which was inserted not only by the authors of the genus, but 

 also by Studer and Delage & Her., is a wrongly determined Kophobelemnon (see under K. stelli- 

 ferum); further, the genus Scleroptilum Koll. must be separated from this family; its polyps, in spite 

 of their dense provision of spicules, want a calyx, and it can only be by an oversight of Kolliker that 

 it has been placed in a family especially characterized by him as provided with a calyx. Finally we 

 have only left Protoptilum Koll. and the later added Distichoptilum Verrill. These two genera, at all 



