190 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL. 14 



v<^^^7 Figularia hilli new species 

 Plate 28, fig. 8 



Zoarium unilaminar, encrusting shells, pebbles and occasionally algae, 

 yellowish in color. Zooecia moderately large and convex, separated by 

 broad sulci. The gymnocyst is well developed, occasionally occupying 

 half or even more of the frontal area, but usually not more than one- 

 fourth, smooth and imperforate. The frontal shield is raised above the 

 level of the gymnocyst and varies greatly in size, a character common 

 to the species of this genus. At its fullest development it consists of 7 

 costulae (3 pairs and one median), but 5 or 6 is a common number and 

 as few as 3 have been observed. The distal pair form the apertural bar, 

 usually thicker than the others, but not elevated into a prominent lip. 

 The remaining costules are usually completely fused for their entire 

 length, but some small slit-like lacunae may be present and small pores 

 occur at the center of the shield. The fused tips of the costules may be 

 elevated into a low, irregular umbonate process at their point of fusion. 

 Each costule bears a large membranous pelma (lumen pore), shaped like 

 an elongated tear-drop, narrow and pointing toward the center, the ones 

 on the apertural bar being similar in size and form. On the proximal, 

 median costule the proximal border of the pelma is often elevated into 

 a small umbonate process. 



The aperture is nearly circular, slightly straighter on the proximal 

 border, with distinct cardelles, distal to which there is a slightly raised, 

 thin, smooth peristome. In the fertile zooecia the side walls of the aper- 

 ture bear a pair of much abbreviated costules, each with a short, wide 

 pelma. No spines nor avicularia have been observed. 



The ovicell is only slightly elevated, transverse, very short, scarcely 

 longer than the one pair of costules of which the ectooecium appears to 

 consist. The characteristic "tear-drop" pelma of the costules form the 

 fenestra on each side. The ovicells are so inconspicuous that they are 

 most easily located by noting the larger aperture of the fertile zooecia. 



Measurements, Zooecial length 0.65 (0.50 to 0.75) mm; width 0.40 

 (0.35 to 0.50) mm. Aperture length 0.15 to 0.18 mm; width 0.18 mm. 

 Aperture of ovicelled zooecia, length 0.15 to 0.18 mm; width 0.20 to 

 0.22 mm. Ooecial length 0.10 to 0.15 mm; width 0.30 to 0.35 mm. 



The species is dedicated to Dr. Howard R. Hill of the Los Angeles 

 County Museum, who presented me with the first specimen, collected at 

 Redondo Beach, southern California. 



