708 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxxv. 



The polyps are entirely retractile, and their tentacles are without 

 spicules. 



Zooids are soon in a few lateral groups of 4 to 6 between the calyces. 

 There are also a few scattered zooids on the dorsal surface. 



The spicules are needle-like, small, colorless, and arranged longi- 

 tudinally in calycular walls. Elsewhere they are variously distributed, 

 sparsely scattered on the stem, and apparently absent from the dorsal 

 band of the rachis. 



Type-specimen. — Cat. No. 25427, U.S.N.M. 



Distribution. — Station 4409, SE. Point Santa Catalina Island 

 SW. 2.1 miles, 88-52 fathoms. 



Family STACHYPTILID^. 



Calyces present, free, zooids ventral. 



Genus STACHYPTILUM. 



Polyps in rows of four on each side of the median dorsal line; 

 calyces with broad vertical bands of spicules; zooids dorsal, ventral, 

 and lateral. 



STACHYPTILUM SUPERBUM Studer. 



Plate XXXVII, figs. 5 and 6. 



Stachyptilum superbum Studer, Bull. Mus. t'omp. Zool., XXV, No. 5, 1894, 

 1». 56. 



Length of colony 175 mm.; stem 81 mm. Terminal bulb soft, 

 slender, wrinkled. There is a slight swelling above the bulb. The 

 ventral surface of the rachis has a deep, even, undulating groove. 



Polyps almost surrounding the rachis. Calyces in 4 rows forming 

 oblique series. They are terete in form, rather slender, 3.5 to 5 mm. 

 long by 1.25 mm. broad. 



The outer side of calycular wall is much the longer, the inner 

 being almost obliterated, owing to its adherence to the rachis. Mar- 

 gin armed witli a varying number of jagged slender teeth, including 

 spicules. Sometimes there are but two very conspicuous teeth, at 

 others four, or even eight; but four is the most common number, 

 t wo larger and two smaller. 



The zooids appear as well-defined brownish dots, a row on either 

 side of the ventral groove being particularly conspicuous on distal 

 parts of the colony. In many places this row is reenforced by a 

 patch of several rows of lateral zooids. The zooids are also rather 

 numerous between the calyces on the dorsal side of the rachis. 



The spicules are large and needle-like, placed longitudinally on 

 the walls of the calyces, although they .ire often more or less oblique. 

 The ventral furrow is devoid of spicules, in marked contrast to the 

 rest of the rachis. Spicules are also apparent lv lacking in the stem. 



Color. — In alcohol, dull brown, the stem and lower part of the 

 rachis being light yellowish brown. 



