TUBICLAVA FRUTICOSA. 257 



fully extended it is nearly cylindrical, but may assume when contracted a short thick pyriform 

 shape. In its extended state it brings to mind somewliat the form of a lighted torch, a resem- 

 l)lance which has suggested the s])ecific name which I have assigned to it. 



2. TUBICLAVA FRUTICOSA, Allmaii. 

 Piute II, figs. 5, 6. 



TROPHOSOME. — Htdrocaulus attaining a lieight of four or five lines, more or 

 less branched ; perisarc smooth. Hydranths nearly cylindrical in extension ; tenta- 

 cles, from fourteen to eighteen, occupying about two thirds of the hydranth. 



GONOSOME unknown. 



Colour. — Hydranth deep vermilion passing into pale red in the cocnosarc, where it is invested 

 by the translucent pale straw-coloured perisarc. 



Habitat. — Attached to rocks at extreme low water spring tides. 

 Bathymetrical distrihidion. — Lower limits of Laminarian zone. 

 Locality. — Tenby, G. J. A. 



Tubiclava fruticosa forms small vermilion tufts on rocks which are exposed only at very low 

 spring tides. The hydranths when extended are nearly cylindical, but become clavate in contrac- 

 tion. They may occasionally be seen bent on one side so as to assume a nutant attitude. The 

 periderm is light straw colour, and so translucent as to allow the pale red coenosarc to be seen 

 tiirough it. 



The budding hydranth is entirely enveloped in a delicate extension of the perisarc of the stem 

 which carries it, and within the sort of capsule tluis formed the tentacles of the bud are developed. 

 When it has attained sufficient maturity the hydranth breaks through its chitinous envelope, and 

 thus comes into immediate contact with the surrounding water. 



MEEONA, Norman. 

 Name. — An arbitrary name without any special significance. 



Tubiclava, — Norman, in Ann. Nat. Hist., 1864. 

 Merona, — Norman, in Ann. Nat. Hist., 1865. 



TROPHOSOME. — HTDEOPHrroN consisting of a developed nYBROCAULUS and a 

 creeping filiform htdrorhiza ; the whole invested by a chitinous perisarc. 

 Hydranths claviform. 



