REPORT ON THE ANTIPATHARIA. 31 



It may be stated here that Gephyra, which has not only been found in the 

 Mediterranean, but also off the N.W. coast of France and off the Irish coast, has been 

 included by Andres amongst the true Actiniaria, as a member of the genus Sagartia, as 

 modified in his monograph of the Naples Actiniaria, 



Haacke (67) in a review of the morphological relations of the Anthozoa, discusses the 

 position of the Antipatharia from data supplied by the researches of Lacaze Duthicrs and 

 v. Koch. As will be shown later, the species on which these observations are chiefly 

 founded, viz., Antipathes larix, can scarcely be considered typical of the group. On this 

 account the diagram of Haacke illustrating the arrangement of the mesenteries (sarcosepta) 

 in Antipathes is misleading, and as a matter of fact the six mesenteries first described 

 by Lacaze Duthiers, although unequally developed, are all complete in the usual sense in 

 which that term is applied. This subject will be discussed in greater detail when 

 considering the morphology of the group. 



Carter in 1880 described (69) under the name Hydradendrium spinosum, a species 

 dredged in the Gulf of Manaar, which was supposed to belong to the Hydractiniidse. The 

 species in question, of which good figures are given, has a branched chitinous axis densely 

 covered with spines. The polyps were not observed. It appears from a later paper by the 

 same author (70) that the Rev. A. M. Norman suggested that the species in question was 

 probably an Antipathes, and Carter admits its close resemblance to Antipathes ulex, 

 Ellis and Solander. He then discusses the affinities of Antipathes, and its probable 

 relation to the Hydractiniidae. Surely the researches of Lacaze Duthiers in 1866 showed 

 that this could not be the case, whilst v. Koch in 1878 demonstrated that Antipathes 

 larix, Esper, possesses all the essential characters of true Zoantharia. The question need 

 not be discussed here further than to state that through the kindness of Mr. Moore of the 

 Liverpool Museum I have been enabled to examine a specimen of Carter's species, which 

 undoubtedly is very closely allied to Antipathes idex, Ellis and Solander. There are, 

 however, certain differences between this form and specimens of Antipathes ulex which I 

 have seen, but whether these are of specific value I am unable to decide at present. In 

 the meantime I have regarded Carter's species as distinct. 



In the Report on the Challenger Actiniaria (72) R. Hertwig discusses incidentally 

 the phylogenetic relations of the Antipatharia. A new family of Actiniaria is established 

 for certain interesting Actinians, particularly those described by Moseley : — Actinia 

 abyssicola and Actinia gelatinosa, together with others related to them. The 

 following are the characters : — 



Amphianthid.e. — Hexactiniae, which are attached to the axial skeletons of Gorgonidas, 

 with shortened sagittal and elongated transverse axis ; transverse axis lying parallel to 

 the axial skeleton of the Gorgonia; circular muscle mesodermal; the principal septa only 

 are perfect and sterile. In addition to the species included in the Challenger collection, 

 Hertwig supposes the Actinia s. Catherine, Lesson, and Gephyra dohrnii, v. Koch, 



