90 



the superficial parts of the rachis are about 0.3 mm. long by 

 .045 broad, the oval and hour glass-shaped spicules which 

 occur both in the rachis and the stalk are o.i mm. in length 

 to .035 mm. in breadth, the otolith-like bodies of the stalk 

 are from tiny specks to .015 mm. in diameter. The long rod- 

 like bodies are of a pale pinkish-brown colour, the others 

 colourless. The autozooids are 10 mm. in length, the 

 tentacles 3 mm. in length. 



These measurements are taken from a single beautifully- 

 expanded polyp that was sent separately with the following 

 note : — *' This specimen " — {i.e., the one I have described) — 

 '* could not be got to expand, but another (the only other 

 found) expanded beautifully, and with the aid of chloral 

 hydrate was killed in this condition, some of the polyps pro- 

 jecting half an inch." 



Some of the autozooids on the specimen sent to me were 

 partly expanded, and I have been able to study their anatomy 

 fairly satisfactorily, but the single autozooid of the expanded 

 colony that was not sent to me is a most beautiful object and, 

 I imagine, quite as fully expanded as in the living condition. 

 The most noteworthy feature is the extraordinary length of 

 the Stomodaeum. It extends from the mouth to a very short 

 distance from the base of the expansible part of the auto- 

 zooid, i.e., about 9 mm. It appears, therefore, to be a much 

 longer stomodaeum than occurs in the Pennatulids which 

 have hitherto been described. It must be remembered, how- 

 ever, that all or nearly all the descriptions of Pennatulid 

 anatomy that have hitherto been published have been based 

 on specimens that were in all probability contracted, and the 

 measurements of length of the parts of the polyps are not to 

 be relied on. The autozooids of the specimen sent to me, 

 although '" expanded," that is to say, not withdrawn below 

 the surface of the Sarcosoma and with their tentacles free, 

 were clearly diminished in volume by muscular tetanus before 

 being killed. They are quite opaque and altogether different 

 cnt in appearance from the expanded autozooid that was sent 

 to me separately. Although the stomodaeum of the auto- 

 zooid of this Cavernularia is, therefore, a long one compared 

 with that of most Alcyonaria, it is doubtful if this is a 

 character which separates it from the other species of the 

 genus or indeed from other Pennatulids allied to it. 



The long rod-like spicules give to the sarcosoma of this 

 form a pale pink colour. Without giving too much promi- 

 nence to colour as a feature in the diagnosis of species, 

 attention may be called to the fact that no mention of any 



