48 BULLETIN OF THE 
Color of the body and disk pale pink, light rosy, or pale flesh-color, varying 
to salmon-color, translucent. Tentacles often darker colored, salmon, light 
orange to orange-brown, commonly with a flake-white ring or streak near the 
tip. The color is often nearly uniform throughout. 
Diameter 10 to 20 mm. ; height 15 to 25 mm. 
This species bas been taken in large numbers, on hard sandy bottoms, among 
and on sponges and worm-tubes, in 72 to 158 fathoms, at a number of locali- 
ties, off Martha’s Vineyard and off Delaware Bay, by the U. S. Fish Commis- 
sion steamer Fish Hawk, in 1880, 1881, and 1882. It was not obtained by the 
Blake. 
Synanthus mirabilis Verrixt. 
Synanthus mirabilis VERRILL, Amer. Jour. Sci., X VII., 1879, p. 474. 
Plate VI. Fig. 9. 
This js a small actinian, which grows parasitically on the dead axis of Para- 
muricea grandis and other gorgonians. In some cases it is so closely grouped as 
to completely cover the surface of several of the larger branches, or even of the 
entire coral, The base of each individual expands widely, and closely clasps 
the branch, often entirely surrounding it, the opposite lobes coalescing when 
they meet ; the basal membranes of adjacent individuals also unite where they 
meet, and in this way entirely conceal the gorgonian axis. In alcoholic speci- 
mens most of the individuals are contracted into rounded verruce, with the ten- 
tacles entirely concealed, but some are still expanded ; in these the tentacles are 
contracted into a short, stout, blunt shape, and are arranged in two alternating 
circles of about twelve each, with indications of another outer circle of much 
smaller ones. Mouth small, elliptical. Surface of the body usually smooth, 
sometimes wrinkled, or having the appearance of low, inconspicuous verruce. 
The basal membrane shows distinct, divergent, radiating lines, corresponding 
to the internal lamelle, and these lines are also frequently visible on the 
column itself. Diameter of the polyps, in alcohol, mostly from 2 to 4mm, 
When this genus was originally constituted, I supposed that the close union 
of the polyps, at their bases, was due to basal budding. Possibly that may be 
the case, to some extent, but the later and better preserved specimens indicate 
that it is due to coalescence. 
The specimens originally described were from off Nova Scotia, in 200 to 300 
fathoms, on Paragorgia, Primnoa, etc., but were poorly preserved ; possibly 
they may be distinct from those described above. 
Station 317, in 333 fathoms, N. Lat. 31° 37’, W. Long. 78° 18’ 35”, Blake 
Expedition, 1880. 
