70 



BULLETIN 100, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Variations. — The variations are so great that the observer could 

 distinguish many species. The length alone varies from 0.44 mm. 

 to 0.60 mm., but it is never larger than 0.60 mm., which is the maxi- 

 mum observed. The zooecial width is smaller on slender branches 

 and larger on the vigorous branches with many longitudinal rows. 



Affinities. — This species differs from Acanthodesia guadrata in its 

 cylindric or compressed zoarium, in its zooecial length never exceed- 

 ing 0.60 mm. ; in its small cryptocyst, and its never bordered opesium. 

 Certain specimens of Caleschara have altogether the aspect of this 

 species, but it differs from them in its small cryptocyst and its smaller 

 zooecial dimensions. All our specimens were dead. 



Membranipora savarti var. guadrilatera Waters, 1887, from Darnley 

 Island, Torres Strait, is possibly the same species but its opesium is 



much smaller. Vincu- 

 v?[ SHLws^^I laria gracilis D'Orbigny, 



«•» 1852, of the French Cre- 



taceous and Membrani- 

 pora regularis Maple- 

 stone, 1900, belong per- 

 haps to the same group, 

 but the serrate denticle 

 has not been observed. 



Occurrence. — D. 5478. 

 Tacbuc Point, Leyte; 

 10° 46' 24" N.; 125° 16/ 

 30" E.; 57 fathoms; Sh. 

 Cotypes. — Cat. Nos. 

 7849, 7850, U.S.N.M. 



Genus QUADRICELLARIA 

 D'Orbigny, 1851 



The zoarium is articu- 

 lated by segments. The 

 zooecia are membrani- 

 poroid and arranged on 4 

 faces (of which two are 



Fig. 11. — Genus Quadricellaria D'Orbigny, 1S50 



A-E. Quadricellaria elegans D'Orbigny, 1850. 

 A. . Segment, natural size. B. Entire segment, 

 enlarged. C, D. Zooecia of tne broad and narrow 

 sides, enlarged. E. Upper end of segment. (A-E. 

 After D'Orbigny, 1850.) 



narrower) placed back to back. No ovicell. 



Genotype. — Quadricellaria elegans D'Orbigny, 1850. Quadricellaria 

 caraibica Canu and Bassler, 1928, from the Gulf of Mexico, may be 

 considered as a recent genotype. 



Range. — Cretaceous (Turonian) — Recent. 



Affinities. — The discovery in the present seas of this old genus is 

 very important; it shows the great vitality of the genera of the group 

 Ascophora or of the Flustrines as the old authors wrote it. Origi- 



