WRIGHT, ON THE GENUS ALCYONID&. 215 
pinnate tentacles constantly expanded. Sometimes one or 
more of these tentacles would fold over the oral cavity, the 
others remaining on the watch for prey. They were most 
active at night and in dark weather.. In the daytime the 
tentacles were almost always completely retracted, leaving 
the eight knob-like portions at their base m close approxi- 
mation around the mouth. Now and then, apparently after 
periods of great good health, when the polypes had been feed- 
ing voraciously, the whole column would be retracted, and 
nothing but a minute button remain visible. At such pe- 
riods the polypes resembled very young specimens of Actino- 
loba dianthus. During the whole period of their existence, 
there was never the slightest appearance of a beading of any 
kind, nor was there any trace of a stoloniferous ccenosarc, 
such as one sees in Sarcodictyon. In comparing these polypes 
with those of this last-named genus, one is struck at first 
sight by their resemblance ; but this is, after all, nothing more 
than exists between the isolated polypes of any genus of Cornu- 
larine. It may not, however, be amiss, before venturing 
to give a diagnosis of this new form, to compare it with what 
is known of the polype of Sarcodictyon. \ Forbes’ figures of 
the two species at present known (S. colenatum and catenata) 
are so very unsatisfactory,* not to say slovenly, that we have 
had recourse to Mr. Gosse’s more elaborate figures and careful 
description of the latter of the two species instead.t He says 
—‘ The creeping band (ccenosarc) is about an inch in length; 
on it are five polypes; they bear a very close resemblance to 
a minute Sagartia, and are invested with a pellucid epidermis, 
which is thown by contraction into annular folds; the disc 
is surrounded by eight marginal tentacles, each of which is 
fringed with two rows of pinne; the exterior surface of these 
latter is studded with oblong tubercles; these enclosed a few 
enide. The most careful scrutiny failed to detect even a 
single spiculum in the texture; but in dried specimens of a 
Sarcodictyon from the West of Ireland I found the spicula 
conspicuous, though not very numerous. The colour is of a 
slight reddish hue.” In my specimens there was not the 
slightest appearance of a coenosarc; the basal portion of the 
polype was entire and convex ; there was no apparent annular 
constriction on contraction ; although they exceeded Mr. Gosse’s 
specimens somewhat in size, yet there was no appearance of 
colour on either the body or in the stomach or ovaries. <A 
careful examination revealed no cnidz; but the whole base 
* “History of British Zoophytes,’ by Dr. Johnston,’ ed. 2, plate 33; 
and ‘ Transactions of the Roy. Soc. of Edinburgh, vol. xx, pl. 9. 
+ ‘Annals of Nat. Hist.,’ 3rd series, vol. ii, 1858. 
