54 Natural Histok\ lii LJ.i-rriN. 



oenus Dcsniosrxp/iii-s were found growing on the sea weed. 

 An interesting species of Thuiaria was secured in abundance. 

 Its gonangia are bottle-shaped with small necks and everted 

 margins. These were among the largest reproductive cali- 

 cles which we encountered. Ag-hiophoiia luiimla Fewkes was 

 found w ith the corbula which very much resembles those of 

 . li^iaop/iciiui pcrforaUi Allman. 



It was at this time also that our whole party enjoyed the 

 exceedinglv rare privilege of seeing the zooids of J\I/7lcpora 

 fulh' expanded. A fragment of this hydrocoralline. haxing 

 been brought up by the dredge, was placed in a jar of sea-water, 

 without anv particular care being taken to avoid exposure to 

 the air or other shock. Knowing the difficulty w ith which the 

 zooids are said to be induced to expand, we were not expect- 

 ing to be thus highlv favored, when a cursor}- examination of 

 the specimen showed a considerable portion of its surface to 

 be covered with \\ hat appeared to be line white down. An 

 examination with the lens disclosed the fact that both the 

 gastrozoids and dactylozoids were fully and beautifully ex- 

 panded, and the\' remained so for nearly an hour. We did 

 not dare to disturb the specimen h\ transferring it to another 

 vessel for the purpose of placing it where it could be viewed 

 with the compound microscope. The characteristic features, 

 howe\er. of the two kinds of zooids could be very well seen 

 with a Coddington lens, and the\' appeared to correspond 

 closeh- with the figures in Agassiz' ■• Contributions to the 

 Natural History of the United States." Volume in. Plate xv. 



On another occasion, while at the Dry Tortugas. ^^ e \vere 

 fa\<>red with a good view of expanded J////r/<'>/v/'. although tin- 

 expansion was not so complete as at the time imder considera- 

 tion. These AFillcpura are known throughout the English- 

 speaking regions of the West Indies and I'lorida Keys as 

 '••pepper eorair a name exceedingly appropriate in \iew of 

 the great stinging powers possessed by the animals. 



At night, while crossing the Banks, we enjoyed the most 

 brilliant exhibition of phosphorescence that occurred during 

 the cruise. Ever\- \\a\e \s'as Mashing with light, and i'\ery 



