704: REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



tlie conspicuous male organs, extending through the whole length on 

 the ventral or branchial side, in the form of a slightly-convoluted duct. 

 The posterior end termiuates in a sqjall, obtuse papilla. The atrium, or 

 cloacal cavity, often contain eggs in which the embryos are well devel- 

 oped, and, in some cases, the free, tadpole-shaped larva. The tunic is 

 specked with numerous, minute, purplish brown pigment-cells. 



Oue of the zooids measured 7.5'"" in length ; thorax, 2™"'; abdomen, 

 1.5"""; post-abdomen, 4"""; diameter of thorax, .8™"^ to .9"""; of abdomen, 

 about the same ; of post-abdomen, .375""" to .5™"^. 



North Carolina to Vineyard Sound. Very abundant in Vineyard 

 Sound, in to 12 fathoms. 



AMARa"-OiUM STELLATUM Vcrrill. (p. 402.) 



Amourouciatn stvUatum Verrill, Amer. Journal of Science, ser. iii, vol. i, p. 291, 

 1871. 



Masses large, variable in form, often in the form of thick vertical 

 plates, or erect crest-like lobes, frequently irregular; surface nearly 

 smooth, naked; tissue firm and cartilagelike externally, somewhat 

 translucent, generally pale yellow or flesh-color by transmitted light. 

 The iiouds are often six inches or more in breadth and height, and from 

 half an iuch to an inch thick. The zooids are grouped in more or less 

 regular, and generally simple, circular, stellate clusters, scattered over 

 the whole surface, and usually containing from six to twenty individuals, 

 arranged around a central, sub-circular cloacal orifice ; iu contraction 

 the positiou of each individual is indicated by an oval spot, more trans- 

 parent than the common tissue, with a small flake-white spot around 

 the branchial orifice. The individual zooids are elongated and slender ; 

 the post-abdomen more slender, usually considerably exceeding iu length 

 the rest of the body, and but slightly constricted proximally ; the thorax 

 and abdomen are shorter and stouter than in the preceding species ; 

 branchial sac with about twelve transverse vessels ; stomach oblong- 

 oval, with numerous longitudinal glandular folds, which are bright 

 orange-red in life ; intestine large, light orange or yellow. Branchial 

 tube elongated, bright orange; the orifice with six prominent rounded 

 lobes. Anal orifice snbterminal, with a promiueut ligulate process 

 above, and several small lobes below. 



North Carolina to Cape Cod. Very abundant in Vineyard Sound, iu 

 5 to 15 fathoms, on gravelly and shelly bottoms. Fort Macon, North 

 Carolina (Dr. Yarrow). 



Amarcecium constellatum Verrill. (pp. 388, 403.) 



American Journal of Science, ser. iii, vol. ii, p. 359, 1871 {Amouroucium). 

 Masses thick, turbinate, often incrusting, surface usually convex, 

 smooth ; substance firm, gelatinous, translucent, but softer than in A. 

 stellatiim. Groups stellate, circular, oval or elliptical, often narrow and 

 elongated, or irregular and complex ; zooids much elongated, slender ; 

 the branchial tube short, with six roanded lobes. Branchial sac elong- 



