In the specimen presented by Dr. Blake the style or axis is round and the 

 polyps are arranged in two longitudinal unilateral series, which conform to the 

 convexity of the external fleshy covering. With these differences, I think I am 

 justified in placing it in a new sub-genus for which I propose the name of Ver- 

 rillia in honor of Prof. Verrill of Yale College. 



Genus PAYONARIA, Cuvier. 

 Sub-genus Yerrillia, Stearns. 



Polypidom linear-elongate, round, oval or ovate in cross-section. Axis round, 

 slender, bony ; polyps arranged in two unilateral longitudinal series. 

 Verrillla Blakei, Stearns ; n. s. 



Polyp-mass or polypidom, of a flesh or pink color, linear, elongate, attenuate ; 

 polypiferous portion about three fourths of the entire length, rounded oval to 

 ovate-elliptic iu cross section, and from three fourths to one inch in greatest di- 

 ameter, flatly tapering toward the tip, as well as decreasing in the opposite 

 direction to where the polypiferous rows terminate or become obsolete. From 

 this latter point to the beginning of the base or root, a portion of the polypi- 

 dom, equal to about one sixth of its entire length, is quite slender, being only 

 about twice the diameter of the naked axis, and the surface quite smooth ; said 

 portion, as well as the base, is round (in cross section) ; the basal part is from 

 one ninth to one eleventh of the entire length, and about one inch in diameter, 

 with the surface longitudinally wrinkled or contracted, presenting a ridged or 

 fibrous appearance. 



Style or axis long, slender, white, hard, bony, somewhat polished, about three 

 sixteenths (3-16) of an inch in diameter in the thickest part, tapering gradually 

 toward the tip, and attenuated, with surface somewhat roughened toward the 

 basal extremity. Inclosed in the polyp-mass or polypidom, the axis is central 

 from the base to where the polyp-rows begin, when it soon becomes marginal or 

 lateral, forming a prominent rounded edge (free from polyps) on one side of the 

 polypiferous portion of the whole. 



From near the sides of the axial edge the polyp-rows start, and run oblique- 

 ly upward to the opposite side, where they nearly meet, presenting, when that 

 side is observed from above, a concentric chevron or ^-like arrangement, modi- 

 fied by the convexity of the polypidom. The more conspicuous polyp-rows 

 show from uine to fourteen polyps, with occasional intermediate rows of three 

 or more polyps. 



The length of the most perfect of Dr. Blake's specimens was sixty-six (66) 

 inches ; of which, commencing at the tip, a length of forty-eight and a quarter 

 (483^) inches was occupied by the polyp-rows, which numbered two hundred 

 and forty-five (245), or twice that number when both sides or arms of the chev- 

 ron or ^ are considered. The number of polyps in each row was, in this speci- 

 men, from eight (8) to eleven (11), with occasional intermediate shorter rows of 

 from three (3) to seven (7). Estimating ten to the row, this specimen exhibited 

 about^ye thousand polyps, all of which, as well as the polyps in the other speci- 

 mens, were filled with ova, of an orange color. In the next section of this spec- 

 imen, the length between the last polyp-row and the swell of the base or root, is 



