464 ' Verrill, Notes on Radiata. 



longer and much more exsert, and connected together only on the in- 

 side by a membrane that does not reach the summit. 



Liophactis ornata Verriii, sp. nov. 



This curious species is known only from one specimen, which is well 

 preserved in alcohol, with the disk and tentacles expanded. 



The column is higher than broad, though evidently much contracted ; 

 the surface has a finely papillose, or deeply and closely wrinkled ap- 

 pearance, and appears to be covered with a dark-colored, thin, insep- 

 arable, epidermal layer; its substance is firm and tough, somewhat 

 leathery. 



The disk is broad ; mouth with numerous marginal folds ; buccal 

 disk small, surrounded by a circle of 96 simple tentacles, which are 

 rather long, enlarged somewhat at the end, which is marked with about 

 ten sulcations. They are apparently arranged in four or five circles. 

 The 12 branchiae are large, with a broad membrane uniting them to- 

 gether on the inside and separating them from the tentacles ; their 

 summits are arched, bearing along the crest a narrow, closely convo- 

 luted frill, having its edge finely divided into a fringe-like structure ; 

 below the crest there is a transversely thickened portion ; the lower 

 part is thinner, with strong, longitudinal, muscular folds. These or- 

 gans, therefore, are probably capable of being considerably extended 

 during life. Height, of specimen in alcohol, 1 '5 inches ; diameter of 

 disk 1 ; length of tentacles 'S ; of branchiae from base '5 ; along crest 'A. 



Pearl Islands, — F. H. Bradley. 



Asteractis Verrill, gen. nov. 



Column versatile in form ; walls firm and sub-coriaceous. Disk 

 broad, capable of involution, bearing, near the mouth, a circle of nu- 

 merous simple tentacles, and outside of these a corresponding number 

 of radiating rows of small, sessile, somewhat lobed and subdivided 

 tubercles or papillae, increasing in size to the margin, which is crenu- 

 late or dentate with the last tubercles of each series. 



This genus is somewhat allied to Oulactis but difl'ers in having 

 branchiform organs, consisting of rows of sessile papilhe on the disk, 

 instead of distinct, prominent, frondescent appendages, rising from its 

 surface. The column differs, moreover, in lacking verruciform suckers. 



To this genus probably belong Actinia floscuUfera Les. ( Oulactis 

 flosculifera* Duch. and Mich.) and Oulactis formosa\ D. and M. from 



* Coralliaires des Antilles, p. 46, PI. vii, figures 7, 11, 1860. 

 f Loc. cit., p. 47, PI. vii, fig. 4, 5. 



