5 PENNATULIDA. 



provided with spicules along the aboral side of the stem. The polyps contain well-developed sexual 

 products (eggs). The polyps are arranged in two alternating rows each corresponding to one edge 

 of the quadrangular calcareous axis ; between the developed polyps smaller ones are found, and between 

 these again numerous small ones more or less in the zooid stage; in the very smallest, however, ten- 

 tacles may be traced as small papillae, and their calyxes are provided with 8 points; true zooids 

 that remain as such, are not found. In all these features this specimen agrees with the «genus» Lep- 

 toptilum of Kolliker. At station 18, south west of Iceland, about midway between Greenland and Ice- 

 land, the Ingolf> has obtained one more specimen, also a Leptoptilum-stage, but only about 70™"" 

 long. Unfortunately, it is little but a naked calcareous axis, the soft parts having been scraped 

 away except in a few places where some polyps are saved. They show the differences in size 

 characteristic for these young stages; although they are only badly preserved the determination is 

 quite certain; moreover, the axis is quadrangular. A very young and slender Leptoptilum stage, 28 mm 

 long (the top, however, is broken off, and the specimen is upon the whole very badly preserved) has 

 been taken by the steamer Thor in 1903, near the Vestman Islands (St. 167). It has been shown 

 by Grieg that Leptoptilum is only a young stage of Funiculina, and further that Leptoptilum gracile 

 — the Norwegian specimen (var. norvegicum Kor. & Dan.) as well as the pieces of the many specimens 

 of the Challenger Expedition (from the seas near New Zealand) which have been given to the Bergen 

 Museum — belongs to the species F. quadrangularis (Berg. Mus. Aarb. 1896, Nr. 9). 



The genus Lrptoptilmn must accordingly be rejected, which assuredly, must also be the case 

 with regard to the genus Trichoptilitm of Kolliker. It has been established on a single specimen — 

 Tr. brunneum — obtained between Ceram and New Guinea; in all essential features, also, as mentioned 

 above, in outward appearance and very nearly in size '), it agrees exactly with the first named specimen 

 of Funiculina of the Ingolf . One difference, however, still remains : Trichoptilum brunneum is 

 provided with zooids, without spicules, which do not look like future polyps. As, however, the 

 specimen is somewhat damaged, their different appearance may possibly be due to maceration or the 

 like, or the question may be of a separate species of Funiculina. But I am quite convinced that the 

 genus» Trichoptilum is a young form of some Funiculina or other. The same conviction has 

 already been expressed by Verrill (Am. J. Sc. (3) vol.23, p. 312, note), and he proposes the name of 

 Funicul. brunnea*) for the species of Kolliker. The fact is that Verrill has observed its similarity to 

 young stages of his Funic, nrmata. 



As to this species of Verrill, which is described in Am. J. Sc. (3) vol. 17, p. 240, and later 

 ibid, vol.23, p. 312 and Bull.Mus.Comp.Zool.vol.il, p. 6, PL I, fig. 4, it must, so far as I can 

 see, be regarded as identical with F. quadrangular is, since in the description I can indicate no 

 feature really separating these two species. The strong spiculation, which has evidently given rise 

 to the specific name armata, may very well be found in F. quadrangularis, which is very variable 



') Kolliker gives 34.3™™ ; but the figure, which is said to be natural size, measures ca. 300 cnnl ; after having seen 

 the type-specimen in Brit. Museum I am able to decide that the mm. of the text must be a misprint for cm. 



2 ) The opinion of Verrill is followed by Roule (Camp, du <Caudan» p. 307); but when he thinks his . Tric/raptilttm sp». 

 to be either a young Anthoptilum or a young Funiculina, he seems less clear about the matter {Anthoptilum, as is well 

 known, having no calyx and no spicules, apart from the microscopic small spicules of the peduncle, etc.); the question can 

 only be of Funicul. quadrangularis, which was before known from the coast off Arcachon. 



