56 BULLETIN OF THE 



between the ■wrinkles of the upper parts. Surface of the upper half often 

 more or less nodulous and wrinkled, becoming more so toward the margin, 

 where the elevations become elongated ridges and crests. Base clasping the 

 denuded axis of Balticina and other Pennatulidse where these have been in- 

 jured, most frequently on the upper end, but not uncommonly on other parts 

 of the rachis, beyond which the polyps may be still alive. The lateral lobes of 

 the base meet and coalesce around the axis, so as to form a tubular sheath, 

 considerably beyond the breadth of the body. When two or more are crowded 

 together, their basal disks unite where they come in contact, thus entirely cov- 

 ering the axis that supports them. Tentacles nimierous, covering much of the 

 disk, rather short, thick, tapering, but not seen in full extension. 



Color of body usually pale salmon or flesh-color, with streaks of bro'i\Ti, in 

 wrinkles; disk deep orange-brown, with darker brown radii; tentacles salmon- 

 brown. 



The following specimens were dredged by the Blake, in 1880. 



It was dredged at several stations, off Martha's Vineyard, in 168 to 245 

 fathoms, on Balticina, by the U. S. Fish Commission, in 1881 and 1882. 



Numerous specimens, from the various fishing banks off Newfoundland and 

 Nova Scotia, have been broi;ght in by the Gloucester fishermen. These are all 

 on Balticina, and mostly from 200 to 300 fathoms. 



Actinostola Verrill, gen. nov. 

 Type, Urticina cnllosa Verrill. 



Size large, integimient very thick, firm, leathery, lubricous, not very con- 

 tractile. Column covered with large, irregular tubercles, not having the power 

 of adhering to foreign substances; upper portion not essentially diflerent from 

 the rest, the surface being without specialized structures ; margin indefinite, 

 continuous with the bases of the smaller outer tentacles. Basal disk fre- 

 quently smaller than the upper part of the column, usually concave and 

 enclosing mud. Tentacles numerous, short, thick, more or less scattered over 

 the disk, the inner ones much the largest, longitudinally sulcated, imperfectly 

 contractile, not deciduous. Disk usually deeply concave ; mouth large, with 

 large, strongly lobed lips, and Lirge gonidial grooves. The walls of the boily 

 are very thick, firm, leathery, and, although capable of considerable contraction 

 longitudinally and transversely, they seem to be incapable of contracting suffi- 

 ciently to withdraw the disk and tentacles ; when handled, the colunni fre- 

 quently becomes collapsed and longitudinally folded, and frequently takes an 

 hour-glass shape, the disk and tentacles remaining fully exposed, although the 

 tentacles may be very much diminished in size. 



This genus is allied to Bolocera, Urticina, and especially to Acfinavgc. From 



