REPORT ON ACTIXIARIA. 



227 



the Antheomorphidas and the Antheadag lies in that in the 

 former there is no sphincter muscle while in the latter it is 

 present but feebly developed. Whether this is sufficient to 

 recognize them as distinct families remains to be seen. 



Genus HALCURIAS McMnrrich, 1893. 



In my original definition of this genus I laid stress on the 

 fact that four pairs of mesenteries were less developed than 

 the other six; this difference is by no means evident in the 

 specimens I have found in the present collection and is prob- 

 ably due to the stage of development of the individual. It 

 will be necessary accordingly to slightly modifv the original 

 definition, so that it may read thus: 



Antheomorphidas with tentacles only moderately long and 

 conical; with ten pairs of mesenteries all of which are perfect 

 and provided with well developed muscle pennons. 



1. Halcurias pilatus McMitmch, 1893. 



Station Xo. 29. Sand Key light bearing N. about 6 miles; 

 116 fathoms; 5 specimens. 



Station No. 64. American Shoal light bearing N. by W. 

 about 8 miles; no fathoms; 1 specimen. 



This species I originally described ('93) from specimens 

 collected by the United States Fish Commission in lat. 48 

 09' S.; long. 74 36' W., at a depth of 449 fathoms. The 

 external appearance of the specimens in the present collection 

 is somewhat different from that shown by the Fish Commis- 

 sion specimens and it was only when I came to study the 

 anatomy that the identity became evident. The differences 

 are, however, probably due to the methods of preservation; 

 in the present specimens the column is more cylindrical and 

 longer in proportion to its breadth and the color of the speci- 

 mens is a creamy white, the Fish Commission specimens 

 being of a dirty brownish color with indistinct indications of 

 darker longitudinal bands. This difference in color may be 



IV — T, V 2 



