TUNICATA OF THE PACIFIC COAST OF NORTH 

 AMERICA. I.— PEROPHORA ANNECTENS N. SP. 



BY WILLIAM E. RITTER. 



While the summer work in biology of the University 

 of California was being carried on at Pacific Grove, dur- 

 ing the month of July, 1892, my special attention was 

 given to the Tunicates of that locality. All the rocky 

 shores of Monterey Bay, particularly those of the south- 

 ern, or Monterey side, are very rich in this group of 

 animals. 



A large collection was made by mvself and students, 

 and the paper here presented is a portion of the results 

 of the study begun on the living animals at the seaside, 

 and continued on preserved material brought back to 

 Berkeley. In my efforts to reach conclusions concerning 

 the variations that were early found to be conspicuous in 

 the form under observation, I have been able to compare 

 a larger number of individuals than would have been 

 possible but for the assistance rendered me by one of 

 my students, Mr. S. J. Holmes, who has prepared many 

 specimens for examination. I may here say, however, 

 that although I have examined many hundreds of indi- 

 viduals, and with considerable detail, as far as general 

 anatomj^ is concerned, I am satisfied that I have not pur- 

 sued the subject to the extent that it deserves. I antici- 

 pate that further study along this line will vield interest- 

 ing results. 



The species in hand is a Perophora, as I believe the 

 sequel will show to the satisfaction of every one acquainted 

 with this genus and its nearest congeners. But the in- 

 teresting fact may be pointed out at once that the char- 

 acteristic of chief importance for distinguishing it from 

 the other species of the same genus, would, according to 



2d Ser., Vol. IV. October 26, 1893. 



