SARSIA RESPLENDENS. 181 



grouped by Haeckel ('79) in the genus Codonium ; but it is not unlikely 

 that its peculiarities may finally warrant instituting a new genus. It is 

 clearly separated from all of the various species of Sarsia found in the 

 Pacific. 



Sarsia resplendens, sp. nov. 

 Plate 7, fig. 1; Plate 40, fig. 8. 



Acapulco Harbor ; surface ; 6 specimens. 



The largest specimen (Type) is 2 mm. high by 1.5 mm. in diameter; all 

 have nearly mature gonads. 



The bell is rather high, rounded, of about equal thickness throughout, 

 ■without any trace of apical projection or even of an abor.al gelatinous thick- 

 ening. The exurabral surface is entirely smooth, the appearance of radial 

 nematocyst ridges seen in the colored figure (PI. 40, fig. 8) being caused 

 merely by a wrinkling of the surface, due either to artificial or to muscular 

 contraction. 



Tentacles. — The shortness of the tentacles is a very characteristic feature 

 of the species, and one unusual in Sarsia. Although the specimens were 

 studied alive the tentacles were never observed to extend to a length greater 

 than one half the bell height. The tentacles bear prominent nematocyst 

 swellings, which are variable in form, but never form rings ; they are few in 

 number, six to ten per tentacle, corresponding to the shortness of the ten- 

 tacles. They occupy nearly the entire length of the tentacle, only a very 

 short basal region being naked (PI. 7, fig. 1). At the tip of each tentacle 

 is a spherical nematocyst pad. 



The tentacle bases are swollen and brilliantly pigmented ; on the outer 

 surface of each is a large ocellus. 



The manubrium is very short ; in none of the specimens was it seen 

 to extend lower than the mid level of the bell ; but inasmuch as it is 

 contractile, it may perhaps be protruded as far as the bell opening. It 

 varies greatly in form with different states of contraction. In four of the 

 specimens it is circular basally (PI. 40, fig. 8); in two, however, it is con- 

 tracted so as to take a cruciform outline, the four ridges being perradial. 

 The mouth is circular, surrounded by a simple lip which may temporarily 

 assume a cruciform outline (PI. 40, fig. 8). There is no trace of a " stiel 

 canal." 



