62 BULLETIN OF TIIK 



the coluniclla-lip of the si)irul sbelL The surface within the aperture, in con- 

 tact with tiie cral), is coated with a smooth, brown fihii, not easily separable. 

 Tlie tentacles, in life, are rather slender in extension, very numerous, forming 

 several distinct circles; in alcoholic specimens they are rather stout, short, 

 tapered, subacute, nearly equal; in some cases they are entirely retracted, in 

 others partially exposed. The color of the coral is tran-slucent, bluish or pur- 

 plish gray, or grayish brown. In fresh specimens the tentacles are pale orange 

 or salmon, with lighter tips, and the polyps themselves partake more or less 

 of salmon-color. In younger specimens the number of polyps is less in pro- 

 portion to the age, but the arrangement is essentially the same. 



Diameter of ordinary specimens, in alcohol, about 60 to 70 mm. ; vertical 

 thickness, 25 to 30 mm.; length of the polyps, 15 to 20 mm.; diameter in the 

 middle, 10 to 12 mm.; at base, 12 to 18 mm. Some specimens considerably 

 larger than this have been obtained. 



This species was first taken by the Gloucester fishermen in deep water off 

 the coast of Nova Scotia, in 1878, and by them presented to the U. S. Fish 

 Commission. It has since been dredged by the U. S. Fish Commission 

 off Martha's Vineyard, in 252 to 640 fathoms, 1880 to 1882 (Stations 880, 883, 

 893, 894, 938, 947, 994, 997, 998, 1028, 1029, 1122, 1124, 1140). At Station 

 947, in 312 fathoms, it was very abundant, several hundred having been taken 

 at a single haul; at most of the other localities it was taken in small numbers. 



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



Hitherto all the specimens of this species that have been taken have been 

 occupied by Parapagurus 2nlosimanus, which has not been found by us in any 

 other carcinoecium. 



The young Epizoanthus evidently attaches itself to the shell when the crab 

 is very small, for in most cases the enclosed shell is of small size, but by the 

 growth of the polyp the aperture is enormously extended, so as amply to ac- 

 commodate the crab after it has reached a large size. In the majority of 

 specimens examined the original shell still remains, though usually entirely 

 covered by the integument, but in some cases it seems to have been entirely 

 dissolved and removed. 



This species, although in habit like some of the varieties of Epkoanthus 

 Arnericanus, is easily distinguished. It grows to a much larger size, with 

 much larger polyps, and the surface is much smoother, more lubricous and 

 translucent, and is destitute of the firmly adherent coating of sand always 

 present on E. Americanus; moreover, the latter has a nuich less regular ar- 

 rangement of the polyps, which usually stand out in radial directions, but at 

 various angles. 



