STOMATOPOEA FASCICULATA. 441 



c. Colony clustered. 



StOMATOPOKA FASCICULATA. 

 Plate LIX. figs. 4, 5. 



Zoarium adherent, composed of a number of clavate 

 expansions more or less elongated, unbranched, and 

 usually slightly curved, originating one from the side 

 of another, and forming a cluster. Zocp.cia immersed, 

 generally only the orifices showing on the surface, and 

 forming groups of 2 to 4 or 5, which are disposed along 

 the centre of the zoarium, the extremities very slightly 

 raised ; at the end of each segment a subcircular cel- 

 lular space, somewhat elevated ; rarely the cells are 

 ranged transversely in series of 3 to 4. 



Length of each clavate portion about ^ inch. 



The description is founded on a single example ; but it is 

 finely developed and leaves no doubt as to the distinct- 

 ness of the form and its leading characters. It consists 

 of a group of four perfect subcolonies, and a fifth which 

 is only partially formed. Each of them is clavate in 

 figure, with a sinuated outline; but they vary in width 

 and length, one or two being of a shorter and broader 

 type than the rest. The zoarium in the more elongated 

 form is very convex, and the sides slope steeply upwards 

 from the base towards the centre, along which the zooecia 

 are ranged ; in the broader form the surface is flatter and 

 more depressed. The mode in which these subcolonies 

 are united is peculiar ; each one is given off" from the side 

 of another, the point of origin being diff"erent in each case. 

 From the primary subcolony two originate, cue on each 

 side. 



The segments are attenuated towards tlie point of 



