[fraser] HVDROIDS OF THE VANCOUVER ISLAND REGION 171 



Ophiodes gracilis new species 

 PI. XXII, Fig. 82 



Trophosome. — Slender stems growing from a regular reticular 

 stolon; the longer steins are very distinctly jointed and may be slightly 

 branched. Besides these longer stems there are more numerous 

 shorter ones, each of which serves as a pedicel of a hydrophore; they 

 are not jointed but they are distinctly annulated; the margin of the 

 hydrophore is but little everted, often not at all. Tentacular organs 

 appear on the stolon as well as on the stem; they are very long and 

 slender and are protected by a chitinous cap similar to a nematophore 

 of I he Phimularidœ. 



Gonosome. — Unknown. 



Distribution. — Clarke Rock, Pylades Channel, Rose Spit. 



This species seems to be quite distinct from any of those of which 

 I have seen figures. It bears as much resemblance to 0. mirabilis 

 Hi neks as to any of the others but does not appear very much like it 

 even. 



Family Lafoeidae 



Trophosome. — Hydrotheca tubular; margin entire, no operculum, 

 hydranth with conical hypostome. 



Gonosome. — Gonangia forming a coppinia mass. 



I have some doubt as to the advisability of including the genus 

 Lictorella in this family. Unlike the other genera it has a distinct 

 diaphragm in the hydrothecal cavity. In other features the resem- 

 blance is marked. It has gonangia in a coppinia mass, which prob- 

 ably is the most characteristic feature of the Lafœidœ. As other 

 investigators have included it in this family it is probably better to 

 do so for the present at least. 



Key to the genera of Lafceidae found in the Vancouver I. region. 



A. Hydrothecae directly attached to a reticular stolon Filellum 



B. Hydrothecae attached to a fascicled stem 



a. No septum present in the hydrothecal cavity 



1. Hydrothecae free or very slightly adherent Lafœa 



2. Hydrothecae largely adherent or immersed. . .Grammaria 



b. Septum present in hydrothecal cavity Lictorella 



Genus FILELLUM 



Trophosome. — Stem a slender stolon, growing over other hydroids, 

 wormtubes etc.; hydrothecae partly adherent, the free portion curved 

 upward; no diaphragm in the hydrothecal cavity. 



Gonosome. — A coppinia mass. 



