140 BULLETIN 100, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



of a number of very similar forms, many of which will probably 

 eventually prove to be identical. C. ceylonensis Herdman (190G, p. 

 334, pi. 8, figs. 23-25) from Ceylon is one of those which appear to 

 be very closely allied to the present form. 



Genus HOLOZOA Lesson, 1830. 

 [=Distaplia Delia Valle, 1SS1.] 



HOLOZOA VALLn (Herdman), 1886. 



Plate 33, figs. 47 and 48. 



1SSG. Distaplia vallii Herdman, Rep. Voy. Challenger, vol. 14, Tuni- 



cata, p. 12S, pi. 18, figs. 1-6. 

 1S91. Distaplia vallii Herdman, Journ. Linn. Soc. London, Zool., vol. 



23, p. 613. 

 1SU3-1907. Distaplia valid Seeliger, Bronn's Tier-reich, vol. 3, suppl., 



pi. 3S, fig. 4. 

 1909. Distaplia vallii Caullery, Bull. Sci. France Belgique, vol. 42, p. 45. 

 1909. Holosoa valid Hartmeyer, Bronn's Tier-reich, vol. 3, suppl., 



p. 1437. 

 1912. Holosoa vallii Hartmeyer, Deutsche Siidpolar-Expedition, vol. 12, 



Zool., pt. 4, p. 486. 



The numerous specimens in the collection exhibit great variation 

 in the form of the colony, ranging from distinctly capitate colonies, 

 raised on a short but more or less distinct neck, to irregular rounded 

 masses and even flattened incrusting forms. The most symmetrical 

 and one of the largest colonies is nearly egg-shaped, though flattened in 

 one direction, 55 mm. high by 37 mm. in greatest transverse diameter, 

 and was attached by a very short thick neck arising at the large end. 

 A majority of the specimens are, however, quite irregular in form, 

 though a tendency to approach the capitate type prevails. Test, in 

 the alcoholic specimens at least, of a rather soft, somewhat fibrous 

 or sponge-like texture, very opaque, the surface generally not very 

 smooth and often indicating by rough, slightly depressed areas the 

 positions of the groups of zooicls. In those cases where the limits 

 of the systems appear to be distinguishable, the s}'stems, though 

 varying in form and extent and often irregular in outline, seem to 

 be mostly rather small and simple. Color of the colonies very vari- 

 able ; the ground color is yellowish, greenish, or brownish, this being 

 more or less extensively mottled or marbled in the superficial parts 

 with areas of some other color; greenish yellow, dark green, dull 

 purple or purplish red (the color varying in different colonies), these 

 colored areas being due to collections of rounded or oval pigment 

 cells, green cells predominating or occurring exclusively in some 

 colonies, while in others red cells are present in sufficient number to 

 give the red or purple coloration, though green ones are also present 



