136 



THREE CRUISES OF THE " BLAKE." 



was dredged from ] ,240 fathoms, over 300 fathoms deeper than 

 the greatest depth at which any phimularian was collected by 

 the " Challenger." The Tubularians, so common in shallow 

 water, do not seem to extend to any considerable depths. A 

 characteristic plumularian is the stately Aglaojjhenia bispinosa 

 (Fig. 431), dredged off Alligator and Tennessee reefs, from 

 200 fathoms, surpassed in size by very few hydroids. The cor- 

 bulse (Fig. 432) are very beautiful, and present a most instruc- 

 tive illustration of the morphology of the organ. The lower 



Fig. 432. — Aglaophenia bispinosa, magnified. (Allman.) 



part of the stem is composed of tubes, which, at rather regu- 

 lar intervals, become curiously contorted into knob-like projec- 

 tions. (Fig. 433.) They become separated at the extreme lower 

 end, where they form a large entangled mass of filaments. 



Cryjytolaria conferta (Fig. 434), forming crowded entangled 

 tufts, was dredged off Cojima, Cuba, in 450 fathoms. On the 





Fig. 435. — Cryptolaria conferta, 

 magnified. (Allman.) 



Fig. 434. — Cryptolaria conferta. 

 1. (Allman.) 



branches of one of the specimens occurred here and there ir- 

 regularly fusiform shaped bodies (Fig. 435), the nature of which 



