HYDROIDS OF BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROUNA. 



367 



? Halecium bennudense Congdon. 



Halecium bermudense Congdon, Hydroids of Bermuda, 1907, p. 473. 



Trophosome. — Colony not very large, sometimes reaching a height of 35 mm.; main stem fascicled; 

 branches may be slightly geniculate, divided into regular intemodes by transverse nodes. Hydrophores 

 alternate, shallow, often reduplicated; when reduplication does 

 take place the succeeding rims are very close together. 



Gonosome. — "Colonies dicecious. Gonothecae sessile at the 

 axils of hydrophores, sometimes found arising from hydrophores. 

 Female gonothcCEe ovoid, flattened, with a short pedicel-like 

 base, one side open for two-thirds of its length, the edges of the 

 opening forming two similar compound curves. The blastostyle 

 extends up ai-ound the opposite side, curving toward the opening. 

 The development of the eggs is accompanied by the breaking down 

 of the tissue between them and the opening. Male gonotheca cy- 

 lindrical and usually slender, truncate, and tapering toward base, 

 often marked by an irregular encircling groove somewhat wav>' 

 in outline one-third of the way from the base." (Congdon.) 



Distribution. — On sponge dredged by the Fish Hawk. 



The trophosome, which was all that was found in this case, 

 resembles the trophosome described and figured by Congdon, but 

 without the gonosome it is impossible to be sure of the identifica- 

 tion. Congdon 's description and figures are given. 



Halecium nanum Alder. 



Fig. 28. — Halecium bermudcnse Congdon. 

 A, portion of colony; B, female gonosome 

 (after Congdon); C, male gonosome (after 

 Congdon). 



Halecium nanum Alder, Ann. and Mag. K. H.. 3d ser. 3. 1859, p. 355. 

 Halecium marki Congdon, Hydroids of Bermuda, 1907, p. 474. 



Trophosome. — Colony minute, 1.5 to 2 mm. high (Congdon reports them as high as 3 mm.), arising 

 from a much branched stolon, which seems to have more free ends than usual. On one small piece of 

 sargassum may be found colonies in several stages of growth, from those with a single hydrophore only, 

 supported on a tubular pedicel, to those that have attained adult gro\vth. The mode of branching 

 is irregular and characteristic. Usually the main stem consists of tlie original hydrophore and its pedicel, 

 though that may be extended by reduplication. Just below the hydrophore another pedicel may be 

 given off, which may reduplicate or give off one or two branches and this may be repeated. Branches 



Fig. 29. — Haleciutn nanum Alder. A, portion of colony; R, portion of colony to show male gonosome; C, female gonosome. 



may be given off at both sides to make a rather regular bilateral arrangement or they may be almost 

 all on the one side. Frequently they are not all given off in tlie same plane, tliough they can scarcely 

 be said to be given off on all sides. Tlie hydrophores are longer than usual among the HalecidcE. 



Ck)nosome.- — Ck)nangia given off similar in position to the lateral hydrophores or branches; male 

 ovate or obovate, with a narrow attachment but broadly rounded at the distal end; female larger, with 



