1 76 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL. 14 



Membraniporella pulchra new species 

 Plate 27, figs. 5 and 6 



The zoaria are small, encrusting, on the dorsal side of Cupuladria 

 canariensis (Busk). The zooecia are moderately small, averaging 0.40 

 mm in length (range 0.35 to 0.44) ; well separated, with narrow intero- 

 pesial areas ; costa very regular, 6 to 8 pairs, situated close together, some- 

 times almost closing the lateral lacunae ; central area comparatively large 

 and regular in form, with 10 or 12 or even a larger number of small lacu- 

 nae. The lateral oral spines are flattened at the base but usually end in a 

 single point, occasionally short-bifid ; a small median terminal tubercle 

 in the absence of the ooecium. The distal pair of costae form the proximal 

 border of the aperture, which is slightly arcuate and without an umbonate 

 process. A slight median keel is occasionally present. 



The ooecium is hemispherical, 0.18 to 0.20 mm wide by 0.15 mm 

 long, with the usual v-shaped area on the front. 



The species is evidently related to M. aragoij but the much smaller 

 size, the larger number of costae, the much narrower lateral lacunae, the 

 larger and more regular central area and the simplicity of the lateral oral 

 spines seem suflicient to require specific standing. Whether the peculiar 

 habitat on the dorsal side of Cupuladria has any meaning is a question. 



Type, AHF no. 44. 



Type locality, Hancock Station 135-34, Sulphur Bay, Clarion Island, 

 west of Mexico, 18°20'20"N, 114°44'25"W, 25 fms. Also at Sta. 921- 

 39, north of Clarion Island, 30 to 33 fms. 



Membraniporella crassicosta Hincks, 1888 

 Plate 27, figs. 1 and 2 



Membraniporella crassicosta Hincks, 1888:216. 

 Membraniporella crassicosta, Osburn, 1912:279. 



Zoarium a coarse reddish brown incrustation which may rise in bi- 

 laminate frill-like folds to the height of an inch. The zooecia are large, 

 0.60 to 0.90 mm long by 0.45 to 0.55 mm wide, and coarse. The aperture 

 is large, 0.25 mm long by 0.30 mm wide, rounded distally with the 

 proximal border somewhat straighter. The spines forming the pericyst 

 are unusually broad and heavy, ordinarily fused only at the tips, the first 

 pair forming the border of the aperture. In young colonies there are 

 usually three pairs of spines (occasionally an extra 1 or 2) and there 

 is some resemblance to M. aragoi (Audouin), as Hincks points out, 

 though the zooecia are mvich larger. Away from the center of the colony 

 only the two distal pairs are fully developed, the others represented by 



