152 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



gastrozooids is slit-like, with its long axis transverse. In the gonozooids there is a 

 swelling at the base of each tentacle, and between the two a longitudinal depression. 



Two or three young specimens, which probably belong to this species, were obtained 

 at Station 195. The stem is very slender, like a bristle, about 11 cm. long, and bears 

 near the apex three or four subopposite pairs of simple branches from the antero-lateral 

 margin, which are arched forwards and then recurved. The lower ones are 4 cm. long, 

 the others shorter, the terminal pair being nearly 1 cm. long. 



Var. plenispina, nov. (PI. V. fig. 5). 



A single specimen from Station 218, 1070 fathoms, differs from the type in minor 

 points, but chiefly in the number and relative size of the spines. The specimen, which is 

 12 cm. long, is attached to a small stone. The stem is very slender, and only bears 

 branches on the lower part of the upper half of its length, where the stem is slightly 

 thicker. The lower 6\3 cm. of the stem does not bear branches. The succeeding 14 mm. 

 gives off three pairs of branches, which are nearly but not quite opposite. The lowest 

 branch leaves the stem on the left side, then, only 0"8 mm. above it, one passes off on the 

 right ; next, after an interval of nearly 6 mm., another subopposite pair is given off, and 

 finally the upper pair at a similar distance from the middle pair, but this time it is the 

 branch on the ris;ht side which leaves the stem first. The inclination of the three 

 pairs of branches also differs. The upper pair includes a wide obtuse angle, the middle 

 pair an angle only little exceeding 90°, while the lower pair includes an acute angle. 

 In general appearance the specimen closely resembles the type of Bathypathes patula. 

 The specimen is nearly void of polyps, but from the fragments present it seems very 

 probable that they closely resemble those of the type. 



The spines are, however, much more numerous and rather stronger, with a broader 

 base than in the type specimens. They are disposed in irregular and rather close 

 dextrorse spirals and also in longitudinal rows, four of which may be seen from one 

 aspect of a branch. The members of a row are here only two to three lengths 

 apart (PI. V. fig. 5). 



Habitat.— Type. Station 244; June 28, 1875; kit, 35° 22' N., long. 169° 53' E.; 

 depth, 2900 fathoms ; bottom, red clay. One specimen. 



Station 246 ; July 2, 1875 ; lat. 36° 10' N., long. 178° 0' E.; depth, 2050 fathoms; 

 bottom, Globigerina ooze. One specimen. 



Young.— Station 195; October 3, 1874; lat. 4° 21' S., long. 129° 7' E.; depth, 

 1425 fathoms; bottom, blue mud. Two specimens. 



Var. plenispina.— Station 218 ; March 1, 1875 ; lat. 2° 33' S., long. 144° 4'E.; depth, 

 1070 fathoms; bottom, blue mud. One specimen. 



