128 THE BERMUDA ISLANDS. 



to the above species. The term ocellata was first given by Ellis 

 and Solander to a form which, however, was very poorly char- 

 acterized, so much so that certainty of identification is impos- 

 sible. The only statement in the description of which use may 

 be made is that the polyps are rust-colored. Later authors 

 simply copied Ellis and Solander's description, until Dana,* evi- 

 dently relying on the figure which accompanies the earlier 

 description, adds the characteristic that the polyps, though im- 

 bedded in coenenchyma throughout the greatest part of their 

 extent, are yet free above. Duchassaing and Michelotti in 

 their paper of 1860 described a form under this name which 

 differs somewhat from the original type species, and is proba- 

 bly to be considered, as Andres has done, a distinct form. In 

 their later paper they make this form identical with a form 

 they name Palythoa mammillosa, a name taken from a second 

 imperfectly characterized form mentioned by Ellis and Solander. 

 In fact, so much confusion is introduced by Duchassaing and 

 Michelotti as to render it very difficult, if not impossible, to 

 ascertain what forms they are really describing. 



Under the circumstances I have thought it well to retain 

 the name which accompanied the specimens, and trust that 

 the following description will sufficiently characterize them to 

 allow of the identification in the future. 



The polyps are grouped together in small masses, and pro- 

 ject decidedly above the surface of the coenenchyma. Their 

 height measured from the lower surface of the coenenchyma is 

 1-2 cm., and their breadth, measured at the summit, about 07 

 cm. in the fully grown individuals. The polyps and coenen- 

 chyma are densely incrusted with particles of sand and other 

 foreign bodies, anol are of a grayish sandy color, sometimes 

 deepening to a rust color. 



Upon the outside of the column is a rather thick cuticle, 

 but I was not able to discover whether or not a layer of 

 mesogloea intervened between this and the ectodermal cells. 



*J. D.Dana. Zooph)tes. United States Exploring Expedition. 1840. 



