No. 1.] ACTINIARIA OF THE BAHAMAS. Wi 
showing through, and instead of becoming paler above it darkens 
rapidly, and in the region of the verrucz is a very decided brown. 
The fronds are yellowish white, and thus very different from 
those of the New Providence form, whereas the inner tentacles 
are of the same color as in that specimen. The description of 
the coloration which Lesueur (17) gives agrees with that of my 
specimen. It is as follows: the ‘margin and centre of the 
disc and tubercles (z.e. fronds) of an umber color, tentacula of 
the same color but paler, furnished with several oblong white 
spots, with a blackish brown point in the centre of each spot.” 
On the other hand, Duchassaing and Michelotti’s specimens 
(60) are apparently markedly different from any of the others. 
I quote their description, so far as it refers to the coloration, 
verbatim: “ Le corps a une couleur verte disposée en lignes ou 
zones longitudinales.”” ‘Le disque est verdatre; les tentacules 
d’un jaune clair.” 
I do not think it necessary to consider these various forms 
distinct species, but prefer to group them together as color 
varieties, three such being distinguishable. The predominating 
colors of these are: 
Var. a. White, becoming darker above, fronds yellowish 
white. 
Var. B. Yellow, fronds brown. 
Var. y. Greenish. 
The size and shape of the column varies considerably, accord- 
ing to the amount of expansion. When moderately expanded 
(Pl. II., Fig. 2) it is cylindrical, and measures 8.9 cm. in height 
and 4.4 cm. in diameter; but when fully expanded, becomes 
much flatter and broader, assuming the form represented in 
Pl. VII, Fig. 7, of Duchassaing and Michelotti’s paper (’60). 
It is marked with longitudinal invections, and towards the upper 
part is furnished with several longitudinal rows of verrucz, to 
which particles of shells, sand, etc., adhere. There is no special 
sphincter muscle, the transverse musculature of the column, 
although fairly well developed below, becoming obsolete above. 
Consequently the tentacles are not infolded in contraction. The 
mesoglcea of the column is raised on its outer surface into numer- 
ous irregular elevations (Pl. IV., Fig. 12), throwing the ectoderm 
into numerous folds. The endoderm is comparatively thin, and 
contains numerous “yellow cells.” 
