716 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL. 14 



Type locality, Stepovak Island, Alaska, Alaska Crab Investigation, 

 Sta. 84-40, 15 fms. Another colony, the older one, is from Cleveland 

 Passage, Alaska, 10 fms, W. Williams, collector. 



The older colony differs from the type specimen only in the larger 

 number and greater prominence of the radii and in the absence of an 

 ovicell. 



Disporella stellata var. pacifica, new variety 



Plate 76, fig. 10 



Defrancia stellata Reuss, 1847:37. 



Defrancia stellata, Canu and Bassler, 1930:57. 



Defrancia Bronn, 1825, is considered synonymous with Apsendesta La- 



mouroux, 1821, by Bassler, 1935:48. 



Canu and Bassler, 1930:57 and Plate 14, figs. 7-12, described a 

 specimen of this Miocene form as Defrancia stellata, from the Gala- 

 pagos Islands. As they remark, "It is quite remarkable to rediscover in 

 the recent seas this European fossil." However, the measurements agree 

 with those of the fossils and the specimen photographed (fig. 9) corre- 

 sponds in a remarkable way to the figures of the fossil specimens shown 

 beside it. It is possible that a species may have continued to live from 

 Miocene time and be distributed half way round the world, but the 

 chances are very much against it. Since we know nothing of the ovicells 

 of stellata, it seems better to give the recent form at least a varietal 

 name, pending the discovery of the ovicells of stellata. 



From the Hancock dredgings at the Galapagos Islands 12 specimens 

 have been recovered from 4 different stations, similar to that discussed 

 by Canu and Bassler, but bearing ovicells which are definitely those of 

 a Disporella. 



The zoaria are attached to corallines ; discoid in form, thick, with a 

 narrowly extending basal lamina • the central area large, nearly flat, 

 round or ovate in form, and the radii on the slope of the zoarium; the 

 colonies are of moderate size, from 2 to 4 mm in diameter. The radii are 

 multiserial with 2 to 4 (usually 3) series of tubules which are closely 

 connate to their tips, and which form elevated ridges separated by 2 to 

 4 rows of cancelli. The apertures measure 0.08 mm in diameter and the 

 cancelli 0.08 to 0.10 mm, depending on the amount of closure. 



Vertical budding appears to be a constant character, as even the 

 smallest colonies have at least one sub-colony superimposed and arising 

 near the center of the frontal area ; as many as 3 sub-colonies are present 

 in one specimen, vertically arranged. In one specimen a second bud is 

 present at the edge of the central area, indicating the beginning of a 



