296 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 105 



Ovicell: The smooth, thin-walled ovicells are globose but not ex- 

 cessively salient. The peristome and neighboring zooecia encroach 

 upon their sides. The frontal wall of the ovicell slopes down into 

 the orifice and forms a straight line across the upper part of the 

 orhice. The distal half of the ovicell wall is punctured by up to about 

 15 medium-sized pores. 



Distribution and ecology: The holotype (USNM 11300) is 

 from Station 190. Other colonies are from Stations 226 and 234. 

 Polypide remains are in some of the zoids. Diatoms, Foraminifera, 

 sponges, hydroids, sandy worm tubes and Bryozoa are found on some 

 of the colonies. 



Affinities: Smittina obicullata is similar to Smittia monacha 

 Jullien (1888, pp. 52-53, pi. 2, figs. 1-3) and Smittia jacobensis Busk 

 (1884, p. 153, pi. 19, figs. 7a,b) but differs from them in the shape of 

 the secondary orifice, the direction (location) from which the approxi- 

 mating peristomial processes originate, and in the precise location of 

 the avicularium. Its secondary orifice is shaped lilte a mushroom or 

 shovel, while that of S. monacha is more or less cii'cular, and that of 

 S. jacobensis is elongate, like a vertical row of parentheses. In both 

 S. monacha and S. jacobensis the peristomial bridge originates from 

 the sides (lateral walls) of the peristome, while in S. obicullata it 

 originates from the proximal wall. Lastly, in both S. monacha and 

 S*. jacobensis the peristomial bridge formed by the approximating 

 tabs arches directly over the partly hidden avicularium like a bridge 

 spanning water, while in S. obicullata the avicularium is exposed to 

 full view outside the peristomial boundaries and the "bridge" arches 

 over the peristomial sinus distal to the avicularium. 



Smittina oblongata, new species 



Plate 28 



Diagnosis: Zoarium encrusting. Zooecial front gently convex 

 and decorated by small, widely and irregularly spaced pores. Collar- 

 like peristome is interrupted by a deep, wide, median, angular notch 

 inside of which is a wide, truncated lyrula bordered by two wedge- 

 shaped lateral cardelles. A thin salient edge outlines zooecial bound- 

 aries. Immersed ovicells with a few irregular pores present. Some 

 zooecia with a long narrow spatulate suboral avicularium medially 

 and longitudinally placed just beneath (almost touching) the peri- 

 stomial notch. Beak proximal. Zooecia rectangular. 



This species was named S. oblongata because of its very long, 

 narrow avicularia and zooecia, from the Latin "oblongus" (somewhat 

 long, oblong). 



Measurements: Minimum to maximum and average measure- 

 ments, in millimeters, are given below (for explanation see p. 721). 



