Poly zoa from Barents Sea. 285 



Group b. Ectopsocta. 



Order PEDICELLINEA. 



Family Pedicellinidse. 



Barentsia, nov. gen. 



Generic character. Polypides with a cup-shaped body sup- 

 ported on a long peduncle, having a muscular enlargement at 

 the base, the upper part fleshy and naked, the rest chitinous ; 

 peduncles borne on an erect chitinous stem, bulbous at the 

 base ; the stems united by a creeping stolon, with a chitinous 

 investment. 



The polypides of this very interesting form closely resemble 

 those of Pedicellina ; but it is separated from the latter genus 

 by the singular structure of its zoarium. From the creeping 

 stolon (which is more or less chitinous, and not, as in Pedi- 

 cellina, a mere soft fleshy thread) rise at intervals tall chiti- 

 nous stems terminating below in a somewhat bulbous enlarge- 

 ment. Along one side of the stems are placed at short 

 distances from one another small bracket-like projections ; 

 and each of these supports a long peduncle with a polypide 

 at its upper extremity. Immediately above the point of origin 

 the peduncle is enlarged for a short distance, as in Pedicellina 

 gracilis ; and this portion is probably muscular in structure. 

 Above the enlargement the peduncle is slender, and for a large 

 proportion of its length composed of chitine ; the terminal 

 portion, however, immediately supporting the polypide is 

 fleshy as in Pedicellina. Sometimes the main stem terminates 

 above in two polypides (PI. XV. fig. 12). One of the most 

 striking differences between Barentsia and Pedicellina is the 

 extent to which chitine enters into the structure of the former. 

 In Pedicellina the whole colony is usually fleshy ; the only 

 exception is found in P. gracilis, which has the upper portion 

 of the peduncle composed of a rigid (and probably chitinous) 

 material. 



Barentsia bulbosa, n. sp. (PI. XV. figs. 12-14.) 



Stolon a delicate chitinous fibre ; erect stems usually tall, 

 with numerous bracket-like projections arranged unilaterally, 

 base enlarged. Peduncles long and slender, the soft portion 

 supporting the polypide short. Polypide of a regular cup- 

 shape, not distorted ; tentacles (?). 



The enlarged base of the peduncle seems to correspond with 

 the similar structure in Pedicellina gracilis. The body of the 

 polypide is as regular in form as that of P. nutans, Dalyell, 



Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 5. Vol. vi. 20 



