191''] Biticr-Forsijlh: Ascidians of Suuthern California -ISS 



they are situated ; as long as the stigmata in anterior part of sac. and 

 increasing in length toward posterior end. Endostyle much con- 

 voluted, doubtless due to shrinkage. About twenty closely set, 

 branchial tentacles of three sizes. 



Digestive system. — Esophagus emerges from dorsal posterior part 

 of branchial sac and makes a short curve to enter large, globular, 

 smooth-walled stomach. Stomach with long axis almost horizontal, 

 asymmetrical by entrance of esophagus on median line of under side. 

 Plane of intestinal loop placed nearly at a right angle to sagittal 

 plane of zooid ; anus about halfwa.v up branchial sac (pi. 45, fig. 62). 



Reprodiictive system. — Ovary and testis closely associated; mostly 

 on dorsal side of intestinal loop when immature, but extending behind 

 it in maturity. Testicular lobe.s numerous and surrounding the com- 

 paratively few eggs located in anterior part of gonad. Tadpoles found 

 in atrial cavity in July. 



Habitat and distribution. — Known only from La Jolla, where it 

 occurs on rocky shores betw^een tides. Only one lot of specimens has 

 so far been found. The almost glass-like transparency of test of 

 animal in life has suggested the specific name. For remarks on the 

 .systematic position of this and the preceding species, see under 31. 

 par-fustis. 



Amaroucium californicum, n. sp. 



I'l. 46, fig. 72 



This species has been referred to several times in papers by the 

 senior author as a MS. species by Ritter; but in the absence of a 

 diagnosis or a figure hitherto published, from now on it should be 

 assigned to Ritter and Forsyth. 



Superficial characteristics of the co/o /m/.— Exceedingly irregular, 

 usually encrusting, variable in the thickness even in same colony; 

 frequentlv lobulated, in some ca.ses pedunculated. Very variable in 

 size, often reaching an expanse of from 10 to 20 cm. ; thickne.ss varying 

 from .5 to 2 or 3 cm., even in same colony. Never encrusted with 

 sand, but sand sometimes .scattered through deeper portions. Color 

 various, from opalescent white to reddish brown. 



^oomZs.— Usually very numerous ; frequently, though by no means 

 invariably, distinctly visible through test, both in living and preserved 

 colonies. ' Systems sometimes present, distinct ; sometimes absent, the 

 same colony at times showing both conditions. In an encrusting 

 colonv from San Diego jetty, the systems very plainly oval when 

 zooids were few in number but became elongated as number of zooids 

 increased. These zooids were orange-colored especially anteriorly; 

 buried in the clear, colorless, transparent test, systems separated on 

 the surface bv whitish, almost opaque, elevated ridges. In another 

 colonv devoid" of systems, the individuals were light brown, set ni the 

 still lighter, opalescent, gelatinous test. Still another colony was 

 opalescent white, individual zooids opaque white. Rarely large, not 

 often exceeding 6 mm. in length, u.sually shorter, only a few zooids 

 observed whose long, slender postabdomens brought them near to 1 cm. 



