NO. 1706. CCELENTERATE^ FROM LABRADOR, ETC.—BIGELOW. 313 



Measurements of specimens. 



Locality. 



Between Cape Sable and Cape Race, 

 Newfoundland 



Do 



Do 



Fogo Island, Newfoundland 



Do 



Between Cape Sable and Cape Race, 



Newfoundland 



Woods Hole, Massachusetts 



30 miles southeast of Nain Labrador... 



Do 



Do 



Do 



Gready Harbor, Labrador 



Do 



30 miles southeast of Nain, Labrador... 



Gonads. 



None. 



Do. 

 Very minute. 

 2 mm. long, male. 

 2 mm. long; large ( 



Very small; sex? 

 2 mm. long, male. 

 Very minute. 

 Large female. 



Do. 



Do. 

 Large male. 

 Large female. 

 Large male. 



The localities of capture suggest that the occurrence of these two 

 races may indicate a geographic separation, inasmuch as all the 

 specimens (between 1,000 and 1,100) from the south and east coasts 

 of Newfoundland belong to the smaller, while all the specimens from 

 north of the straits of Belle Isle belong to the larger race. But this 

 distinction may prove to be of less significance than now appears, 

 since it is impossible to distinguish the youngest stages of the two races, 

 and since among the southern specimens several are apparently the 

 young of the larger race. So far as the present collection goes there 

 is no evidence that the difference between the two races is a seasonal 

 one, because the smaller was taken in October as well as in July. 

 I may further point out that should the difference between the two 

 prove to be a case of geographic variation the distribution of the 

 two, as illustrated by this collection, would indicate an entirely 

 unexpected division, because the oceanographic conditions on the 

 south coast of Newfoundland, where the effect of the Gulf Stream 

 is often felt, differ markedly from those on the east coast, whereas 

 there is no surface temperature change of importance between the 

 east coast of Newfoundland and that of Labrador. 



To settle definitely the question as to the relationship of the two 

 races requires a more complete knowledge of their distribution than 

 we now possess, and particularly a fresh study of their occurrence 

 off the New England coast. In the meantime it is best not to burden 

 the nomenclature of the genus with a fresh varietal name which may 

 soon be found to be unwarranted. 



