NO. 1989. ASCIDIAN8 FROM NORTHEASTERN PACIFIC— RITTER. 435 



there is lack of agreement as to its application in particular instances. 

 From Hartmeyer's published statement (1909&) it appears that he 

 and Huntsman discussed the question privately to some extent before 

 Huntsman pubhshed on it ; so we must understand that the perplexity 

 was introduced by Huntsman with deliberation. Until an adjustment 

 is reached on the points at issue in this case the principle of " benefit 

 of the doubt" seems particularly appropriate. Accordingly Styela 

 stands pending unanimity of view as to what name has the prior claim. 



Hartmeyer's argument to the effect that Ascidia should give way 

 to PJiallusia I accept, and the more readUy that PTiallusia has weU- 

 nigh as good a place in general literature as has Ascidia. 



I beheve usage should be a factor in adjudicating conflicting claims 

 between natural history names, as well as in certain classes of cases 

 at law. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF SPECIES. 



MOLGULA OREGONIA, new species. 



Superficial characteristics. — Ovate, the long axis transverse, stiff 

 and hard in general consistency, tliis due partly to the rigidity of the 

 test and partly to the incrustation of sand which forms a nearly 

 uniform layer over the whole surface in most specimens, the sand 

 grains being embedded in the test itself rather than adherent to the 

 coarse fdiform test processes wliich are restricted to a few patches or 

 tufts. Excepting for irregularities apparently due to post-mortem 

 changes, general outhne rather regular though test somewhat wrinkled 

 in some specimens; a few inch vi duals having worm tubes, and other 

 smaller ascidian species cUnging to them. Siphons entirely absent 

 so far as can be determijied; orifices very small, discoverable only 

 by the most careful scrutiny; situated on the side, nearly equally 

 distant from the two ends, the brancliial being somewhat nearer the 

 anterior than the atrial is to the posterior; distance apart sHghtly 

 greater than the distance of the atrial from the posterior end. Dimen- 

 sions of one of the largest specimens, 22 by 15 by 13 mm.; of a 

 second specimen, 18 by 13 by 10; of a third, 18 by 14 by 15. Test 

 less than 1 mm. tliick, dense, thick, and not at all transparent. 

 Mantle rather thick, yellowish opaque over the anterior third, tliin 

 and semi transparent elsewhere except for the voluminous gonads; 

 muscle bands of the mantl^ radiating from the orifice, entirely hidden 

 in the vicinity of the openings by the tliickened yellowish epithelial 

 mantle tissue, reacliing back to about the middle of the bod}^ all 

 around; lobing of the orifices' (six, branchial; four, atrial) obscure, 

 even when test is removed. 



Respiratory system. — Branchial tentacles about 15, possibly a few 

 more minute ones, 8 or 10 of larger size, some of these large and tliick 

 and copiously branched, the branching being secondary as well as 



