33 i Misce lla neous. 



Atlantic Actinlaria of the Dredjings of the Despatcli-hoat 'Le 

 Travailienr.' By M. A. F. Marion. 



The Actiniaria met with in the Bay of Biscay by the Commission 

 of the ' Travailleur ' may be referred to seven species, of which six 

 are new to science ; tliose are Chitonactis Richardi, uov. sp., Ge- 

 phyra Dohrnii, v. Koch, var. vasconica, Edwardsia Jlaccida, nov. sp., 

 Edwardsia scabra, nov. sp., Edtvardsia rigida, nov. sp., Pali/fhoa 

 glomerata, nov. sp., and Falgthoa eupaguri, nov. sp. 



The animals evidently cannot, in the present state of our know- 

 ledge, serve clearly any considerations of zoological geography. We 

 should show, however, that amongst them the only known type 

 (Gephyra Dohrnii) belongs to the Mediterranean fauna. But the 

 true physiognomy of the Coelenterata of the Bay of Biscay cannot 

 be shown until we join to the Actiniaria of this region the Corals 

 and the Alcyonaria, which present, besides several undescribed 

 forms, some Mediterranean and Mexican species. 



It should, in the first place, be remarked how impoitant is the 

 position occupied in our list by the genus Edwardsia, Moseley has 

 already found one species (Edwardsia coriacia) near Cape St. Vin- 

 cent, at a depth of 600 fathoms. Our Edivardsia flaccida was 

 represented by numerous individuals, and at various stations, from 

 600 to 1160 metres. Edivardsia scabra and E. rigida also descend 

 to 1100 metres. However, these species do not differ in organiza- 

 tion from those which frequent the coasts. They have not more 

 than eight cells, though their tentacles may be more numerous, as 

 if recalling one of the most interesting stages in the embryogeny of 

 the Actiniaria. 



Their histology falls under the ordinary plan of structure ; but 

 some external morphological peculiarities very distinctly characterize 

 our three species. 



In Edivardsia Jlaccida the rugose portion of the column is of a 

 bright brownish-yellow tint. It is traversed byeiglit furrows, cor- 

 responding to the septa. The foot-region may protrude in a trans- 

 parent ampulla. The upper portion of the column is smooth and of 

 a deep carmine colour. The tentacles are ten in number. 



Edwardsia scabra is likewise furrowed, but is distinguished by 

 the tuberosities of its column. Edwardsia rigida is of a charac- 

 teristic brown tint, and possesses peculiar mesodermic projections. 



The Pah/thoce have already long been known from great depths. 

 PaJythoa glomerata forms poly[)idonis in incrnsting layers upon the 

 radioles of Cidaris, on coruls, and on Jsis. Palythoa eupaguri lives 

 in curious commensalism with a new species of Eupagurus*, towards 

 which it plays the part of Adamsia paUiatn, always associated with 

 Eupagurus Prideauxii. 



Gephyra Dohrnii of the Bay of Biscay is more brilliant in colour 

 than the Mediterranean individuals ; it is also a little larger. We 

 have observed it only in isolated cases upon the stems of /sis. We 

 consider it to be an Atlantic I'ace. It is undoubtedly alongside of 

 this type, and consequently in the vicinity of Paractis, that we must 

 * Eupagurus Jacohi, A. Milne-Edwards. 



