Xarkativk or Bahama Expedition. Sy 



tube reveals a central cavitv surrounded by the eight mesen- 

 terial chambers, which reach from the base of the branch clear 

 up to the terminal polvp. The ridges indicating these mesen- 

 teries can be seen externally running along in parallel lines to 

 the extremity of the axial polyp. At rather short intervals 

 lateral polvp-tubes appear, ending distally in calicles with eight 

 longitudinal ridges. The polyps can be partially, and per- 

 haps wholly, protracted from the calicles. Color of entire 

 colony, orange. The specimen closely resembles Tdesto 

 arhorca. as figured and described in the •• Challenger " Report. 



Two other species of the Alcyonacea belong to the widely 

 distributed genus Sfongoda. The colony at first glance seems 

 to be nothing but an agglomeration of spicules. The polyps 

 are in dense, short clusters or clumps, and are so compactly 

 surrounded bv large jagged spicules that the calicles are 

 almost concealed. One species is brown and about an inch 

 high, and the other is brilliant scarlet and somewhat smaller. 



The difference between this assemblage of Alcyonaria from 

 the pentacrinus ground and those from shallow water in the 

 same general region, is probably as great as would be found 

 in specimens from the polar and tropical seas, and forcibly 

 illustrates the revelations that await us when investigations are 

 undertaken in the science of bathymetrical distribution of 

 animals, a science which bids fair to be as productive of 

 suggestive facts as is that of geographical distribution, as 

 first conceived and elaborated by Alfred Russell Wallace. 



One or more species of Antifathcs was collected here, all 

 being of the branching type. They were at first taken for 

 plumularian hydroids. to which they bear considerable super- 

 ficial resemblance. 



In this locality about twenty-one species of hydroids were 

 dredged from depths averaging from one hundred to two 

 hundred and fifty fathoms. Of the eight campanularians. 

 five appear to be new. The heretofore described species are 

 Obelia marginata, T/ivroscvphus raniosns. and Cryptolana 

 confcrta. Two parasitic campanularians were secured, one 

 beintr characterized bv a more robust calicle than its nearest 



