SYDNEY J. HICKSON. 



by Professor Roule from 10 fathoms off Franklin Island. At first it seemed 

 possible that a new specific name should be introduced for these specimens, as 

 they differ from the description of the type in size, in the character of the stolon, 

 and in the absence of spicules in the tentacles ; but on further examination of 

 the specimens from locality 4, and some small specimens from other localities 

 that I had previously overlooked, I came to the conclusion that the species is 

 very variable and that these specimens cannot be satisfactorily distinguished from 

 C. frankliniana. 



The specimens are found attached to shells, stones, and worm tubes, and the colonies 

 vary in size according to the nature of their support and the number and character 

 of the other organisms associated with them. The specimen drawn on Plate II., 

 fig. 20, was encrusting a black stone and was not interfered with in any way by 

 other organisms, but another specimen from the same locality [4], growing on a 

 worm tube, was associated with Alcyonium paessleri, Polyzoa, Sponges, and other 

 organisms. 



The stolon consists of a number of bands ramifying and anastomosing over the 

 surface of the support, each about 2-3 mm. in width, but in many places these bands 

 unite to form a continuous membranous stolon. I have already (2) pointed out that in 

 C. australiensis both ribboned and membranous stolons occur, and it is quite clear 

 that this character of the stolon is not one that can as a rule be safely used for specific 

 distinctions. A study of a number of specimens suggests very forcibly that the 

 membranous condition is produced by an amalgamation of bands when the circum- 

 stances of the support permit. The fact that the type specimen is described by 

 Professor Eoule as having " stolons membraniformes " is not sufficient evidence to 

 separate his specimens from these as a distinct species. 



The zooids vary immensely in size. It is true that I have not found any so large 

 as the largest of Professor Koule's specimens, 25 mm. in length and 5 mm. in diameter, 

 but I have measured specimens 20 mm. in length and 3 * 5 mm. in diameter. They are 

 scattered at distances of 2-5 mm. on the stolon bands, but are crowded together on the 

 membranous parts. The body wall of the zooids is opaque, but may have been far 

 more transparent in the living specimens. It is marked externally by eight well- 

 defined longitudinal grooves. The tentacles are short and only partially retracted as 

 in the type specimen. The spicules of the stolon and the basal portion of the zooids 

 are long spindles with numerous short tubercles. A remarkable feature of many of 

 these spicules is that one end is often truncated (PL II., fig. 21 ; and see also Professor 

 Roulc's figures (9), PI. XLVIL, 3a and 3c). They vary in size up to a maximum of 

 about 35 mm. in length. The tentacles of some specimens I examined appeared 

 to be devoid of spicules, and I cannot determine whether this is due to maceration 

 in the preservative or to natural conditions. Other specimens, however, exhibit 

 two rows of short spicules (0'15 mm. in length) on the outer side of the rachis 

 of the tentacles. 



