74 Mr. J, Alder on a new British Zoophyte, 



gradually into the latter at the base ; but it differs more espe- 

 cially iu the peculiar form of the operculum, which, when closed, 

 slopes down on each side like the roof of a house, the two oppo- 

 site angles forming the gables (PI. V. fig. 1). When the oper- 

 culum is fully open, the folds disappear, and the edges unite 

 into a continuous rim round the top of the cell. 



The description is taken from specimens preserved in fluid. 

 The species belongs to the section of Campanularia which Mr. 

 Hincks proposes to form into a new genus under the name of 

 Calicella *. 



Class ECHINODERMATA. 



Order Crinoidea. 



Comatula Sarsii. 



Comatula mediterranea 1, Sars, Beskr. og Jagttagels. 

 Alecto Sarsii, Von Dilben and Koren, Ofversigt af Skandinaviens Eclii- 

 nodermer, p. 3, tab. 6. f. 2. 



One specimen of this little Comatula was obtained from deep 

 water off the Hauf, — the first that has occurred in the British 

 seas. The species was originally noticed by Professor Sars on 

 the coast of Norway, and is fully described by MM. von Diiben 

 and Koren in their Monograph of the Scandinavian Echino- 

 dermata. It is smaller than the Comatula rosacea of Forbes, 

 and more delicate and fragile in all its parts. One of the points 

 most relied on for distinction is the character of the dorsal cirri, 

 in which the joints are less numerous and more slender and 

 elongated than in the other species, and are terminated by two 

 claws (fig. 2), while those of C. rosacea have only one (fig. 3). 

 There are also differences in the arms and pinnules. The colour 

 of the individuals seen alive was light gi*eyish brown. 



Comatula Sarsii is a deep-water species, and appears to be 

 very rare. The few specimens found on the Norwegian coast 

 were dredged in depths varying from 50 to 100 fathoms. That 

 got by Mr. Barlee was likewise found in deep water. It has 

 been injured in the dredge; but enough remains to show the 

 true character of the species. 



The following is the diagnosis of this species given by Von 

 Diiben and Koren : — 



" Cirrhis dorsum totum obtegentibus, sub 40, tenuibus, arti- 

 culis 13-20, quorum longissimi (4-6) triplo longiores quam 



* Among the Hydroid Zoojihytes collected by Mr. Barlee was a fine 

 specimen of Grummaria ramosa, of large size and vei-y much branched. 

 Halecium labrosum, Sertularia alata, Plumularia halecioides, P. myrio- 

 phyllam, Campanularia Hincksii, and C gracillima were also met with. 



