'Tsgx'] PKOCEEDlNGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 197 



tlieir close approximation in the preserved specimens their exact num- 

 ber conld not be accurately determined. On the endodermal surfa(;e of 

 the region which intervenes between the i'ronds and the tentacles is the 

 sphincter, whose form may l)e better nnderst<Jod from the figure (PI. 

 XXXIII, Fij>-. 108) than from a verbal description. It will be seen that 

 it approaches tlie circumscribed type, but still has a considerable attach- 

 ment to the colunui wall. It may, however, be fairly termed circum- 

 scribed. 



The tentacles are simi)le and few in number. They appear to be 

 arranged in two cycles, there being six in each cycle, but it is diffi- 

 cult to make them out satisfactorily in the i)reserved specimens. 



The stonuitodtcum is ])rovided with longitudinal ridges sui)i)orted on 

 elevations of the mrsoghea. The siphonoglyi»hes are dee]), with smooth 

 walls, and with the mesoghea much thi(;ken<'d. There are twenty- four 

 pairs of mesenteries, twelve of them being perfect. The longitudinal 

 ujuscles form a broad, well-defined muscle ])ennon(lM. xxxiii. Fig. 107), 

 and a well developed paiieto basilar muscle is present. IMo re[)roduc- 

 tive elements could be discovered. 



This form may have some relationshi]) to the form described by Ver- 

 rill ('<).S) as JjopJiactis or)i<(f((, as in that form the fronds are more 

 foliose near their outer ends than toward the bases of the tentacles. 

 They seem, however, to be more numerous, though, as stated abov«»., it 

 Avas difficult to decide upon the exact number, owing to their confusion 

 with one another in the contracted preserved S])ecimeu; perhai)s 

 twenty-four would be more correct, each showing indications of a 

 division into two toward the outer extremity and sc) giving the np- 

 pearance of forty-eight. It seems juobable that it is unnecessary to 

 separate Verrill's genus Lophactiti from Oulactis, though very decided 

 differences exist between the. i)resent form and his L. oryiata, with 

 which one might be inclined to identif}^ it. 



Cieims CRADACTIS, jreii. iiov. 



Phyllactidic with the fronds n^presented by bunches of simple or 

 slightly branched, short, tentacle-like stru<;tures. Sphincter aggre- 

 gated or circumscribed. Column with verrifbje. 



Among the actinije which I descril)ed from the Bernnnla Islands 

 ('Sl)a) was one which I referred to the genus Oidactis as (). J'asctcii- 

 l((t((. 1 iH'oi)()se here to unite this form, which differs markedly from 

 <>i(hieti,s in the structures of its fronds, with a form in the Albatross 

 collection, in the above lunv genus. An objection U) this may be found 

 in the very difterent nature of tiu> sphincters in the two species, that of 

 the one being almost difluse, whih' the other is tyi>i(rally circums<'ribed. 

 The strncture of the fronds has been a generic character hitherto for 

 the riiyllactidai, and it is convenient for the present to retain it as 

 su<;h. When the anatomy of a larger number of species is known, it 

 can be determined whether a classification upcni this basis can be re- 

 tained. 



