136 On Norwegian Hydroida from Deep Water. 



tentacles and amongst the capitate arms which thickly cover 

 the whole of the upper portion of the body. Acaulis is 

 closely related to the Tubulariid^ (through Corymorpha) and 

 the Pennariidaj, but seems entitled to stand as the type of a 

 separate family. Myriothela, on the contrary, I should connect 

 more immediately with the Corynidse ; and the present species, 

 as Sars has suggested, may be regarded as an intermediate 

 form between it and Corymorplia. 



Myriothela phrygia, Fabricius. 



The British species of the genus Myriothela has hitherto 

 been identified with the M. arcticay M. Sars, and the earlier 

 Liicernaria phrygia of Fabricius ; and the specific name con- 

 ferred by the latter author has taken its place in our nomen- 

 clature. It appears, however, according to Mr. G. O. Sars, 

 that two distinct forms exist, both of which occur in the 

 Norwegian waters, and that the one which has been observed 

 on our coasts differs from that which Fabricius first discovered 

 and Prof. M. Sars afterwards so well described. It becomes 

 necessary, therefore, to revert to the earliest name conferred 

 on the British species, which we owe to Vigurs (1849). It 

 will stand hereafter as M. Cocksiij while the original species 

 must retain the name oi phrygia. 



It is to be regretted that Sars has not given us a fuller 

 description of the northern form, and indicated more precisely 

 the points in which it dififers from the British. He tells us 

 generally that it is distinguished from it by its different mode 

 of attachment, and that its gonophores are borne on more or 

 less branched processes furnished with capitate tentacles, 

 resembling those which are scattered over the body. 



Syncoryne exiinia^ Allman. 



To this species, an inhabitant of the Laminarian zone on 

 our English coasts, Sars refers a Syncoryne taken at Bodo in 

 80-100 fathoms. Judging, however, from his brief account, 

 his identification seems to me more -than doubtful. He de- 

 scribes his species as having a peculiarly dark brown polypary, 

 which is most obscurely ringed ; the polypites have very few 

 tentacles. 8. eximia^ on the conti-ary, has a transparent, 

 light-coloured polypary, and its polypites are furnished with 

 as many as from twenty to thirty tentacles. The annulation 

 is very distinct so far as it goes, being confined, however, to 

 the very base of the principal stems, and to certain portions 

 of the branches. It will be found, I believe, that the Nor- 



