170 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL. 14 



proximal end of the zooecium is always narrow and tubular where it 

 takes its origin from dorsal side of the preceding zooecium. The distal 

 end of the zooecium is raised, extended forward above, and not resting 

 on the succeeding zooecium. Stalked, moveable avicularia are usually 

 present, but occasionally absent. Ovicells are usually wanting or vestigial, 

 but may be well developed. The species are recumbent, spreading over 

 various types of substrata and attached by radicles which have their origin 

 on the dorsal side. 



Key to Species of Beania 



1. Zooecia in a single series 2 



Zooecia forming a network 3 



2. Basal tubule about as long as zooecial body, terminal spines 



short and weak mirabilis 



Basal tubule only about one-third as long as body, terminal 



spines long and strong alaskensis 



3. Avicularia present, spines vestigial magellanica 



Spines long and very numerous 4 



4. Connecting tubules nearly as long as the zooecia, 3 dorsal spines. 



Columbiana 



Connecting tubules only one-fourth as long as the zooecia, 5 



dorsal spines hirtissima 



Beania mirabilis Johnston, 1840 

 Plate 26, fig. 8 



Beania mirabilis ^ Robertson, 1905 :276. 



Beania mirabilis, O'Donoghue, 1926:45. 



Beania mirabilis, Hastings, 1930 :705. 



The zoarium is uniserial, irregularly branched, spreading over algae, 

 hydroids and other bryozoa, and attached by radicles which have their 

 origin on the dorsal side near the proximal end of the zooecial body. The 

 zooecia are tubular proximally for about one-half of their total length 

 and expand rather suddenly to form the zooecial body which averages 

 about 0.60 to 0.65 mm in length. The total length including the tube is 

 usually well over 1.00 mm. The origin of the zooecial tube is on the 

 dorsal side of the preceding zooecium at about the middle of its length. 

 There are two pairs of short oral spines and 4 to 6 longer spines on each 

 side which bend over the opesial area. Avicularia and ooecia not known. 



This species is distributed around the world in temperate and tropical 

 seas. On the west coast of the Americas it has been recorded previously 

 from British Columbia to Colombia as follows: O'Donoghue, Gabriola 

 Pass, British Columbia, 6 to 8 fms; Robertson, Dead Mans and Santa 

 Catalina Islands, southern California, and Hastings, Gorgona, Colombia, 

 15 fms. 



