EUDENDRIUM GRACILE. 7 



off alternately at sliort and nearly equal intervals along the stem and 

 branches ; main branches and ramuli annulated at their origin ; stem with 

 a few annulations here and there. 

 Gonosome not known. 



Dredged S. S. W. of Tortugas from a depth of 60 fathoms. 



The specimen was destitute of both gonosome and hydranths, but its very 

 slender non-fascicled stem, and short regularly disposed hydranthal ramuli, 

 afford characters sufficiently diagnostic. In the absence, however, of hy- 

 dranths and gonosome, the species is only provisionally referred to Eu- 

 dendrium. 



Eudendrium laxum. 

 PL III. 



TropJiosome. — Hydrocaulus attaining a height of about two inches, irreg- 

 ularly branched, not fascicled ; ultimate ramuli alternate, rather long, and 

 with a few annulations at their origin. 



Gonosome. — Sporosacs (male) bithalamic, springing in a verticil of about 

 ten from the body of the hydranth. 



Dredged off Sand Key from a depth of 100 fathoms. 



This is a loosely branched, somewhat straggling species, with unusually 

 long, flexile, hydranth-bearing ramuli. 



Imbedded in the coenosarcal walls of the lower end of the hydrocaulus 

 and in those of the hydrorhiza, there occurred in the specimen clear 

 spherical bodies of whose nature I am unable to give any satisfactory 

 account. They showed no trace of a nucleus, but are too regular to be 

 mere lacunae. Their real nature can scarcely be determined without an 

 examination in the recent hydroid. 



Eudendrium gracile. 

 PL IV. Figs. 1, 2. 



Trophosome. — Hydrocaulus attaining a height of upwards of an inch, 

 slender, fascicled at extreme base, alternately branched ; ultimate ramuli 

 with nearly obsolete annulation at their origin. 



Gonosome not known. 



Dredged at Double-Headed Shot Key from a depth of from 3 to 4 fathoms. 



This is a slender and delicate species. The hydranths were well pre- 

 served in the specimen, but no gonosome was present. 



