8 KE?ORT ON THfi PENNATULIDA. 



The largest polypes measure 0-30 in. in length, by 0-08 in. in width ; 

 the larger zooids are 0-05 in. long, and the smallestones are minute warts. 

 As already mentioned, it is impossible, in inany cases, to distinguish 

 between the larger zooids and the smaller polypes, and we are strongly 

 disposed to view the former as being, at any rate in many cases, only 

 polypes that have not yet readied maturity. At the most crowded 

 part there are about fourteen rows of polypes per inch length of the 

 rachis, with nine polypes in each row. The total number of polypes 

 may be estimated at about 3,000.* 



The smaller specimens obtained living differ from the larger one 

 above described in the following points (Fig. G) : — The general propor- 

 tions are very similar, but the actual size of the largest polypes is less 

 than those of the large specimen ; the polypes are also far less closely 

 packed, considerable portions of the dorsal and lateral surfaces being 

 left bare between the bases of the polypes and zooids : the polypes 

 instead of being closely massed together in dense clusters are distinctly 

 arranged in oblique rows along the whole length of the rachis. 

 Furthermore the gradual transition from zooids to polypes is far more 

 evident than in the larger specimen. 



These differences between the larger and smaller specimens of Funi- 

 culina are of some zoological interest. Verrill,t from a comparison 

 of several Scotch specimens with ones from the Mediterranean, 

 concluded that they belonged to distinct species, and proposed the 

 name Funiculina Forbesii for the Scotch one. Concerning it he says : 

 "It is much more slender than the latter (F. quadrangularis, the 

 Mediterranean form) with far less numerous and crowded polypes ; 

 these are arranged in oblique series of two or three, instead of five ; 

 the outer ones are the largest, those occupying the central region 

 being rudimentary and papilliform, but all aie disproportionately 

 smaller than those of F. quadrcuujidarh." Dr. Gray J adopts this 

 division, and assigns the name F. quadraufiularis to the Scandinavian 

 forms as well as to the Mediterranean ones, distinguishing the Scotch 

 ones, like Verrill, as F. Foibesii. 



The validity of the distinction has been called in question by 

 Eichiardi,§ and by Kolliker,]! both of whom distinctly state that 

 F. Forhesii is merely the young form of F. quadrangularis, and that 

 they have seen specimens from the Mediterranean forming a complete 

 gradational series between the two forms. 



The Oban specimens set this question completely at rest, showing 

 that the Scotch forms are not, as Verrill and Gray supposed, all 



* The above description of the largest of the Oban specimens will be found 

 to afr>"ee very closely with that given by Kfilliker. (ojj. cit., pp. 257-258) of a very 

 flue specimen 53 ins. in length, obtained from the Danish coast, and now the 

 Museum of Copenhagen. 



t A. E. Verrill : List of the Polypes and Corals sent by the Museum of 

 Comparative Zoology to other Institutions in exchange, with annotations. Bul- 

 letin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology of Harvard College, 1864, p. 30. 



I J. E. Gi'ay : Catalogue of the Sea-pens or Pennatularidffi in the collection 

 of the British Museum, 1870, pp., 12-13. 



§ Kichiardi : Mouogi-afla della Faniiglia dei Pennatularii, Bologna, 1869, p. 96. 



II Kolliker; o^). cit., p. 257. 



