lO HiCKSON, Specimen of Osteocella septentrionalis {Gray). 



All these changes in generic names have been made 

 without any description of the structure of the Pennatulid 

 as a whole that will justify its definite inclusion in any 

 one of the genera whose characters have been welt 

 established. 



Nuttall, it is true, says that Stearns' original description 

 of Verrillia blakei was a "very complete one," but Jun- 

 gersen remarks " the descriptions are so imperfect that it 

 cannot be decided with certainty which of those closely 

 allied genera (z>., Pavonaria and Halipieris) is in 

 question." 



The specimen that has been sent to me does not 

 belong to the genus Pavonaria^ because there are no 

 spicules in the pinnae, nor can it be placed in the genus 

 Halipteris for the same reason, and also because the auto- 

 zooids are bound together to form pinnae. 



I cannot agree with Moroff that in a case of this kind 

 the presence or absence of spicules in the pinnae is a 

 matter of no moment. 



Nutting, referring to the specimens labelled Verrillia 

 blakei in the Stanford University Museum, remarks 

 " these specimens are preserved in glycerin, and the 

 spicules seem to have largely been dissolved " ; but the 

 spicules in the tentacles of Pavonaria finmarchica are 

 r8 — 2-1 mm. in length, and it is difficult to understand 

 Avhy spicules of this size should be dissolved entirely in 

 glycerin. 



In 1902, Moroff described two new species of Penna- 

 iiilids that were obtained by Dr. Doflein from the coast 

 of California. One of these, to which he gives the name 

 Pavonaria dofleini, was 1250 mm. in length, the other 

 P. calif ornica 700 mm. in length. Jt is very difficult to 

 understand Moroffs reason for including these specimens 

 in the eenus Pavojiaria. 



