HYDROIDS OF BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA. 



353 



During the past summer I obtained specimens of Hydractinia from South Harpswell, Me., from 

 different localities near Woods Hole, Mass., and from Beaufort, N. C. In working up the Beaufort 

 hydroids it was necessary to come to a decision as to this species. With that end in view comparison 

 was made, not only of the specimens referred to, but also specimens that had been used by Prof. Nutting 

 from Woods Hole, Mass., Grand Manan, New Brunswick, and from Plymouth, England, as well as some 

 specimens collected some years ago at Canso, Nova Scotia. 



In comparing Prof. Nutting's specimens from Woods Hole and from Plymouth it was an easy matter 

 to see the difference in size of hydranth and number of tentacles that he mentions, but in comparing 

 the Plymouth specimens with some of the specimens obtained during the past summer, the same dif- 



FiG. II. — Hydratlinia cchinata (Fleming). 



A to L. nutritive zooids (rom various localities to show variation in size and number 

 of lenlaclcs. 



ference could not be observed. The individuals of several colonies from Vineyard Haven (near 

 Woods Hole), from Canso, and from South Harpswell were larger than any of the Plymouth individuals 

 and many of them had even fewer tentacles. On the other hand, some from Tarpaulin Cove (near Woods 

 Hole) were as small as Prof. Nutting's specimens from Woods Hole, and those from Beaufort were still 

 smaller. That the difference may be appreciated several drawings have been made (fig. 1 1 J, in all 

 cases from among the largest individuals of matxire colonies. A, C, and G are Vineyard Haven speci- 

 mens, B from Canso, D from South Harpswell, E, F, and I from Plymouth, H from Grand Manan, J from 

 Woods Hole, K from Tarpaulin Cove, and L from Beaufort. They are made from preserved specimens 

 and hence show the individuals in the state of contraction. 



With such a gradation shown, I do not see how it is possible to consider that there are two distinct 

 species, for certainly one who did not know the specimens or drawings could not pick the three British 

 specimens out of the lot. The difference in size could not be influenced particularly by the bases for 



