1 : 



na render ii easj enough to distinguish this species from those it shows 

 affinit) i| -- 



ler with Poecilasma excavatum^ /'. dubium and /'. obliauum, a form of Poecilasma 



ibout the nature of which I dare not pronounce an opinion with certainty. This 



• nted by a single specimen. [*he length of its capitulum is ~ mm., the peduncle 



as long as the capitulum, cylindrical, distinctly ringed. It has the scutum divided into 



jments and, what lias never been observed in any species of this -'-mis, the tei 



divided in two segments. The fissure runs in continuation to the fissure oi the scutum 



and lias the same character in the terga of both sides. rhe terga do nol look (juite normal, 



however, as the) are onlj partij calcified: a relatively large part ol the surface ol the tergum 



being occupied l>\ chitinous substance. 



In fig. 9, PI. I 1 give a drawing « » i" the outlines of this curious form, magnified slightly 

 over 5 diameters; in fig. 10 the apex «'t" the scutum is represented with the division ut* the 

 m magnified 36 diameters. 1 feel at a loss to decide whether this form is normal, in which 

 case it would represent a ven - interesting section of the genus Poecilasma^ or what seems more 

 probable provisionally, a pathological abnormality being caused by mutilation and regeneration 

 of the parts that have been broken off. . . . 



N.B. This form has been labelled /'. excavatum^ varietas. 



At the same Station 253 still another form of Poecilasma was collected. It is represented 

 by a single specimen only; likt- /'. fissum, /'. excavatum etc. it has the capitulum composed of 

 ; valves and it is also nearly related to these species in other regards. lts peduncle seems 

 to 1"- broken off, but the surface of the part remaining bears numermis microscopic spines. The 

 smaller segment of the scutum terminates at its tergal extremity in a point, so that no real 

 tergal margin is formed: in this regard this form resembles P. fissum more than P. excavatum. 

 It differs from both species in the smallness of its terga, its carina being a little longer than 

 in these species. 



The length of the capitulum of this form is 5 mm., that of the part of the peduncle 

 found attached to the capitulum about 2 mm. It was collected at a depth of 304 m. As the 

 specimen does not seem to be quite complete I think it better not to introducé it into the 

 system under a specific name. 



6. Poecilasma obliquum n. sp. PI. I. fig. 11 22. 



Capitulum slightly unsymmetrical, tergum rudimentary and concealed in the membrane 

 een the two scuta; carina with a prominent heel, terminating in a small imbedded fork. 

 i short, partly rudimentary. 



Genera] appearance (PI. I, fig. 11 and 12). Capitulum of oblique lenticular shape, 

 'n a way to the peduncle, that its base is covered at the right side more than at 

 l in the larger specimens distinctly furrowed. 



