1911] Kofoid: The Genus Gomjaulax. 227 



from St. Vaast as Gloiodiiiiuni ovatum is (luite similar in form, 

 proportions and size to this species bnt lacks wholly both sutures 

 and surface markings. It possibly bears the same relation to 

 this species that Schiitt's (1895, pi. 8, figs. 33b ^. J G. polygram- 

 ma Stein var. {=G. sehuetti Lemm.) does to G. polygramma, 

 that is, it is the result of recent eedysis, only taken at an earlier 

 stage in the growth of the theca. 



The status of the small form with hyaline finely and abund- 

 antly striate theca figured by Stein (1883, pi. 4, fig. 19) as a 

 "Panzer eines sehr jungen Individuums noch ohne Spur von 

 Tafelung uud Sculptur" is still somewhat problematical. I find 

 it at times in the summer plankton at San Diego. It is uniformly 

 smaller than G. polygramma. It differs from G. sehuetti Lemm. 

 (== 6r. polygreimma var. Schiitt) in the presence of numerous 

 fine striae and in smaller size. In fact G. seJiuetti appears to be 

 only a G. pejlygramma which has recently shed the thecal wall by 

 eedysis, and has acquired an early phase of a new theca. It dif- 

 fers decidedly from G. serippsae in its but slightly displaced not 

 overhanging girdle. If not an immature or early phase in thecal 

 development following eedysis it is possibly some as yet unknown 

 type of sporulation, in turhynei or some related species. It may 

 be designated as forma longistriata forma nova. 



It is obvious that the apical horn in this form is more devel- 

 oped than in the typical G. turhynei (compare Stein's pi. 4, fig. 

 19, and my pi. 17, fig. 44). This feature is, however, character- 

 istic in the thin theca following eedysis in G. spinifera and G. 

 polygramma (See Stein 1883, pi. 4. figs. 11 and 13, and Schiitt 

 1895, pi. 8, fig. 33b, pi. 9, fig. 34) and might therefore be expected 

 to find some expression also in the corresponding stage in the 

 more rotund G. turhynei. 



Distribution : Taken in surface plankton July 12, 1904, in 

 California current off San Diego. Probably common but escap- 

 ing readil>' through the meshes of the plankton net. Occurrence 

 in other collections of San Diego material not yet determined. 

 Reported as yet only by iMurray and Whitting (1899) from the 

 tropical Atlantic in 16°-44° N and 19°-69° W at temperatures 

 of 55°-80°, and by Schroder (1906) from the Indian Ocean 

 south of Cevlon. 



