ASTRjSACEA. BUN0D1DM. 



THE GAPELET. 



Stomphia Churchim. 



Plate VIII. Fig. 5. 



Specific Character. Body dashed with scarlet on white or yellow ; ten- 

 tacles white, with scarlet bands. » 



Stomphia Churchice. Gosse, Ann. Nat. Hist. Ser. 3, iii. 48. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

 Form. 



Base. Adherent to rocks in deep water, expansile considerably beyond 

 the column. 



Column. Very protean in shape, generally a short thick pillar, sometimes 

 constricted hour-glass fashion or like a dice-box; the base sometimes 

 detaches itself, and becomes very concave with sharp edges, or, on the 

 other hand, protrudes as a low cone. Skin much and irregularly cor- 

 rugated transversely, and also longitudinally from the margin a little way 

 downwards, thus giving a decussate appearance to the upper portion. 

 Margin distinct, but without parapet or fosse, the outer tentacles springing 

 from the very edge. Substance pulpy, or softly fleshy, very lax. 



Disk. Flat, but often protruded as a low cone ; radii well marked. 



Tentacles. About 60, arranged in four rows, viz. 6, 6, 12, 36 ; Bub-equal, 

 the inner slightly longer than the outer, conical, much corrugated in con- 

 traction ; when expanded, about equal in length to half the diameter of 

 the disk ; generally carried horizontally spreading, or descending with the 

 tips slightly up-curving. 



Mouth. Often widely opened. Lip sharp, protrusile, forming a narrow, 

 low, circular wall. 



Colour. 



Column. Cream-white deepening to positive yellow, most irregularly 

 sprinkled with dashes and streaks of rich scarlet, very much like a flaked 

 carnation. 



