On a Specimen of a Gigantic Hydroid, 



Branchiocerianthus imperator (Allman), 



found in the Sagami Sea. 



By 



M. Miyajima, Rigakushi. 

 Science College, Imperial University, Tokyo. 



With Plates XIV cO .YT^. 



On the morning of January 1, 1899, quite a commotion was 

 produced in the Marine Biological Station at Misaki b}' the 

 bringing in of a very beautiful and gigantic Coelenterate (PI. XIY). 

 It had been caught, on the previous day, by a fishing " long- 

 line," from a depth of about 2ö0 fothoms near Okinose, a 

 submarine bank 18 kilometers south of ^lisaki. It was an object 

 which was calculated to raise enthusiasm in a naturalist. A large 

 disc surmounted a Ions; stalk which evidentlv fixed the animal 

 on the sea-bottom. A circle of numerous graceful tentacles haiûg 

 down from the margin of the disc, while on its upper surface 

 arose an oral tube, surrounded at its base by bushy dendritic 

 appendages and having a second circle of slender tentacles around 

 its upper edge. The total height of the animal was 700 milli- 



