32 



commonly given off, at right angles, on each side of the polypiferous segments (fig. 8). In one 

 case (195. B. s ) two branches are given off on one side and one on the other. 



I have noticed two slight differences between the 'Siboga' specimens and those from 

 Japan. In the latter there is a long cylindrical oesophagus, and the stomach has a conspicuous 

 lobe projecting from its ventral (lophophoral) side towards the oesophagus. In the 'Siboga' 

 specimens the cylindrical part of the oesophagus is short, while the lobe of the stomach is not 

 present, although it is perhaps represented by a slight indentation in the inner surface of the 

 epithelium, in the position of the lobe of the Japanese specimens. These differences do not 

 seem to warrant a separation of the two forms, in view of the close resemblance which exists 

 in other respects. 



Oka states that the sexes are separate and that the colonies are unisexual. 



The present species seems to be nearly allied to B. macropzis Ehlers, 1890 and to 

 B. timida Verrill. The latter name is regarded as probably a synonym of B. discreta by 

 Osburn, 19 14. 



o 



. Barentsia laxa Kirkp. (PI. II, figs 10, 11). 



Barentsia laxa Kirkpatrick, 1890, "Hydr. Pol. Torres Straits", Proc. R. Dublin Soc. (N. S.) 

 VI, p. 624, PI. XVII, fig. 6. 



88. A. Stat. 115. East side of Pajunga Island, Kwandang Bay, reef. On a Coral {Porties). 

 380. D. Stat. 47. Bay of Bima, 55 Metres; mud with patches of fine coral-sand. 



Size large, reaching a total length of nearly 3.5 mm. Basal muscular part of stalk either 

 without appendages or bearing a pair of distally situated, pointed, membranous appendages. 

 Thinner part of stalk at first cylindrical, then increasing in width and annulated with numerous 

 rings; this part of the stalk very flexible. 



The characters of the stalk are markedly different from those in the previous species, 

 in which the greater part of the length is rendered rigid by a strong development of the cuticle. 

 In B. laxa it is obvious that the contractility is not confined to the basal portion, but is also 

 present in the greater part of the length of the stalk. This is shown by the extremely variable 

 shape of the preserved specimens, in which the annulated part of the stalk is curved into all sorts 

 of positions 1 ); and is also indicated by the fact that longitudinal muscles can be distinguished 

 in this region. 



The measurements of the specimen represented in fig. 1 1 are as follows (in u.) : 



Length of calyx 480 Breadth of calyx 365 



Length of distal part of stalk .... 2500 Breadth of stalk, near calyx 80 



Length of muscular base of stalk . . 480 Breadth of stalk, near muscular base. 32 

 Total length 3460 Breadth of muscular base 190 



1) In the contractile character of the distal part of the stalk this species resembles a form of Barentsia from Newport, R. I., 

 U.S. America, described by I.eidy (" Urnatella gracilis", J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, (2) IX, 1S84, p. 14, text-fig. on p. 11), and 

 on idered by him to be nearly allied to H. gracilis. The stalk of B. major Hincks ("Pol. St Lawrence", I, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) I, 

 iSSS, p. 226, PI. XV, fig. 2) and of its var. elongata Jullien and Calvet (1903, p. 27, PI. II, fig. 3) is similarly annulated. In B. variabilis 

 Calvet and in B. capitata Calvet (1904, „Kry. Hamburg. Magalhaensische Sammelreise", pp, 40, 41, PI. III, figs I, 2), a stiff, chitinous 

 part of the stalk is suceceded distally by an annulated, fiexible part. 



3 2 



