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BULLETIN 100, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



and D5236, Pacific Ocean, east coast Mindanao, 494 fathoms (903 

 meters), bottom temperature 41.2° F. (5.1° C). 



Tliis is a large and striking species, often several millimeters in 

 length and very straight, long, and narrow. It was originally de- 

 scribed from Albatross station D4900 in the Eastern Sea off south- 

 western Japan, in 139 fathoms (254 meters). In this region many 

 southern species range to the north, and it is not surprising to find 

 this species somewhat more abundant in the Philippines. 



The Philippine specimens are not as large as those from the type 

 station off Japan. Sidebottom records this species from off the 

 east coast of Australia in 465 fathoms (850 meters). It seems to be 

 distinct from T. porrecta as developed in the Philippine region, and 

 probably is a distinct Indo-Pacific species. The early chambers 

 of the test are not always Spiroplectine, although they seem to be 

 in the largest specimens, probably indicating that both the micro- 

 spheric (Spiroplectine) and megalospheric forms occur. The fol- 

 lowing notes are from Sidebottom's paper: 



Four occur, the largest having about forty chambers. They agree accurately with 

 Cushman's description, excepting that the apertural end is not "somewhat acute." 

 The same large tests occur at the Challenger St. 185, off Raine Island, but they are 

 very roughly built. 



Further investigation may prove that these are a variant of Textularia agglutinans, 

 var. porrecta Brady. 



Cushman's species appears to be identical with the forms recorded and figured by 

 Chapman from Great Barrier Island, New Zealand, 110 fathoms, under the names 

 Spiropleda sagittula (Defrance) and S. sagittula, var. fistulosa Brady.^ It is a 

 very large form, typical of the "Thomson Basin," and abundant in dredgings from 

 this area. The early structure is in our experience usually, if not invariably, Spi- 

 roplectine, and Cushman's figure suggests a Spiroplectine form, though his descrip- 

 tion contains no reference to this feature. But the Dart specimens are of a megalo- 

 spheric Textularian type, and this would seem to be proof of dimorphism. The 

 species deserves to be carefully worked out. 



I agree with Sidebottom that Chapman's material, especially the 

 figured specimen, belongs to this species. It is the microspheric 

 form as shown in the figure and by its being placed under Spiro- 

 2)lecta. 



Textularia stricta — Material examined. 



•Chapman, 1906, Trans. Zealand Inst., vol. 38, 1905, p. 87, pi. 3, flg. 4. 



