198 ACTINLE OF ALISATROSS EXPLORATIONS — M'MlJkKlCH. 



33. Cradactis digitata, sj). nov. 



riato xxxiii, Fisis. lOit-llL'. 



No. 692fl. Station 276G. Lat. 36^^ 47' S. ; long. 56^ 23' W. Deptli, m fathoms. 

 Three specimens, two of whifh, however, are small. 



The tlire^ specimens of this species were conlniiicd in tlie same 

 bottle Avliicli lield tlie i'orins described above as SfU/artia pitfudoxa. 



The base of the sin^U' adnlt specimen was injured, so that it is impos- 

 sible to say whether or not it was adherent oriyinally. The column is 

 cylindrical, and measures in tlu^ adnlt specimen 2'"' in hei«^htandl.5'"' 

 in diameter. Tiie base is somewhat smaller than the column, I^umer- 

 ous, somewhat scattered, vcirnca' occur on the column wall, beinj; innch 

 more distinct near the ai)i>arcnt maruin than lower down. Tli(» fronds 

 consist of bunches of short, blunt, tentacle like processes (IM. wxiii, 

 Fig'. 110), each of which divides, near its extremity, into two short arms. 

 The «'ndodcrm (»f the fnnnls is colored with brown ]»iiinu'nt. The 

 si>hincter (IM. xxxiiT, l''iii. Ill) is very strono- and is circnmscribed, 

 resembling closely that foriu of sphincter which is characteristic of the 

 Bnnodidu'. 



The tentacles are short and stout, and each has a])parently a pore at 

 the tip (IM. XXXIII, l^'ig. 1(M>/). They seem to be arranged in about two 

 cycles, and are not numerous, ]>rol)ably not exceeding forty-eight. 

 Their endoderm contains brownish ])igment similar to that of the 

 frouds. 



The stomatoda'um in all the specimens is considerably evaginated. It 

 possesses two well de\'eloi>ed and deep siphonoglyi»hes, whose mcsoghea 

 is decidedly thickened and smooth, that of the rest of the stomatoda'um 

 being raised into hnigitudinal ridges. 



There are tw«'nty-fonr ])airs ot mesenteries, twelve of which are per- 

 fect. The longitudinal muscles ( PI. xxxiii. Fig. 112) are well developed, 

 tbrming a broa<l pennon, similar to that of Oiihicfis ('(iliforiiim; the 

 parieto basilar muscle is also wc^ll develoi)ed, forming a fold u])on the 

 surface of the mesenteries. No repioductive organs were observed. 



Onl. 1 *^'l IClIODACTVLINyE. 



Hexactinlu% in which the tentacles are arranged radially, more thau 

 (Uie communicating with sonn^ or all of the endociels. 



i^imily COiJALIdMOIJIMIin/K. 



Sticho(lactylin.e,witli a luarginal eoronaof tentacles, and intermediate 

 tentacles similar to tiiose of the margin arranged in radial series, each 

 series consisting of IVoiu <»ne to many tentacles. Musiulature through- 

 out weak; no specially (IcvcIoimmI spliinetei'. 



This family was estaldished by Ilertwig (\S'J) f(»r the reception of 

 the two tbrms deserilted by Moseley ('77) under the generic term 



