NOKTH SIDE OF THE BAY OF BISCAY, AUGUST, 1906. 27 



growth : (a) A creeping form which occurs on Eudendrmm. In this 

 form the stolon either gives oft' stems bearing only hydranths, or stems 

 with lateral branches which carry the hydranths. The stem is either 

 simple, nionosiphonic, or fascicled. A fascicular stem has usually only 

 one or two auxiliary tubes, (h) An erect form which is distinguish- 

 able from the creeping form by the main stem being thick and 

 composed of many auxiliary tubes, and by the presence of thick 

 fascicular branches which give oft" branchlets to bear the hydranths. 



Sars has described and figured the creeping form on Eudcndrium. 

 Allman, Bonnevie, and Bedot, figure the erect form, which reaches a 

 lieight of 70 mm. In this collection both forms occur ; the erect form 

 is similar to the figures given by Allman and Bedot. 



The peduncle of the hydrotheca has the appearance of being twisted 

 near its base. There is not a distinct joint, but rather a corrugation 

 of the perisarc. Occasionally a peduncle was seen without the slightest 

 trace of even a wrinkle, but peduncles with several transverse 

 corrugations or even with two or three distinct rings were more 

 frequently seen. 



The hydrotheccC are alternately situated upon the stem, and all turn 

 towards the same side of the colony. They frequently show several 

 rings of growth near their orifice. A single hydrotheca is also present 

 in the axil of the branches. 



In addition to the ordinary hydrothecae, there are very minute 

 pedunculated cups, resembling somewhat in shape and size the 

 sarcothecas of Pcrisiphonia 2^cctinc(ta (Pictet and Bedot, 1900, PI. IV. 

 figs. 2h, 2c). They occur either at the axil of a branch, or at the 

 base of the peduncle of a hydrotheca, or on an auxiliary tube of the 

 stem. They are, however, extremely scarce ; one branch may have two 

 or three, and another none at all. Some have, undoubtedly, been 

 broken off, as minute holes were found in the perisarc in the places 

 where they should occur, but even the holes are very scarce. A few 

 of the sarcothecae contain a little coenosarc which is usually in a 

 contracted or dilapidated condition. 



The existence of nematophores in La/o'ea pinnata has not been 

 previously noticed, but before changing the generic name again it 

 would be well to know if similar nematophores occur in specimens 

 from other localities, especially off the Norwegian coast. If so, then I 

 would suggest that the species be transferred to the genus Zygophylax, 

 Quelch. There seems to be a close relationship between my specimens 

 of La/oea pmnata and Zygophylax hiarmata (Billard, 1907). 



All the colonies are without gonosomes. Bonnevie has figured the 

 gonosome, and it belongs to the Scajncs type. 



Distribution. Arctic Ocean, 71° 45' N., 15° 41' E., 620 fathoms 



