Deep-sea and Shalloio-water Hydrozoa. 3 



paratively minute, yet the whole hydrophjton may attain with 

 age a comparatively large size, becoming erect or suberect and 

 branched, with the stem and chief branches fascicled. The 

 peduncle of the hydrotheca is very variable in thickness, 

 but it never becomes very thin ; the rings of elongation of the 

 hydrotheca are generally very distinct and from two to four 

 in number. Height of the largest specimen about 80 millim. 

 when placed in water and allowed to disentangle itself from 

 the closely curled manner in which it dries. 



Cryptolaria conferta. (PI. TI. fig. 1.) 



Cryptolaria conferta, Allman, Mem. of Mus. Comp. Zool. Cambrido-e, 

 U.S.A. vol. V. no. 2, p. 17, pi. xii. figs. 6-10. 



Specimens which do not seem to me to differ from this 

 species have been presented to the British Museum by Miss 

 M'Lea. On some specimens, which I regard as female stocks, 

 occur curious large elongated bodies, which call to mind the 

 large elongated gonothecas of various species of Gampanu- 

 laria, and which leave no doubt in my mind that they are 

 the real gonothecae of the species. These bodies are placed 

 on the branchlets and on the distal portion of the main 

 branches, and are directly continuous with one of the fascicled 

 tubes of the stem. They are about from four to six times the 

 length of the free portions of the hydro thecge on the distal 

 parts, elongato-cylindrical with a plain circular orifice, con- 

 stricted at the base, where they join the tube of the stem, and 

 attached throughout their whole length to the branch or 

 branchlet from which they arise. They are often much 

 covered at different parts by small fascicled tubes of the stem. 



Different structures have been described by Prof. Allman, 

 Mr. S. F. Clarke, and Mr. J. W. Fewkes as occurring on 

 various species of Cryptolaria^ which have been regarded by 

 them with more or less certainty as being the gonosomes of 

 those species. In the second part of the narrative of the 

 cruise of the ' Challenger,' p. 752, in a note on the Hydroida, 

 Prof. Allman, however, states that on a specimen of this 

 genus, from a depth of 2600 fathoms, " we have been made 

 acquainted with its gonosome, which had not previously been 

 detected." As there have been so many different views as to 

 the structure of these parts, 1 have deemed it advisable to 

 notify the presence of gonothecae on this specimen, in order 

 that it may afford what confirmation may be possible to this 

 later view of Prof. Allman, 



hoc. North Atlantic. Lat. 48° 33' 52", long. 10° 33^ 14". 

 Brought up by the sounding-wire from a depth of 500 fathoms 

 [Mr. Hamilton) , 



1* 



