62 BULLETIN OF THE 
the columella-lip of the spiral shell. The surface within the aperture, in con- 
tact with the crab, is coated with a smooth, brown film, not easily separable. 
The tentacles, in life, are rather slender in extension, very numerous, forming 
several distinct circles; in alcoholic specimens they are rather stout, short, 
tapered, subacute, nearly equal; in some cases they are entirely retracted, in 
others partially exposed. The color of the coral is translucent, bluish or pur- 
plish gray, or grayish brown. In fresh specimens the tentacles are pale orange 
or salmon, with lighter tips, and the polyps themselves partake more or less 
of salmon-color. In younger specimens the number of polyps is less in pro- 
portion to the age, but the arrangement is essentially the same. 
Diameter of ordinary specimens, in alcohol, about 60 to 70 mm.; vertical 
thickness, 25 to 30 mm.; length of the polyps, 15 to 20 mm.; diameter in the 
middle, 10 to 12 mm.; at base, 12 to 18 mm. Some specimens considerably 
larger than this have been obtained. 
This species was first taken by the Gloucester fishermen in deep water off 
the coast of Nova Scotia, in 1878, and by them presented to the U. 8S. Fish 
Commission. It has since been dredged by the U. S. Fish Commission 
off Martha’s Vineyard, in 252 to 640 fathoms, 1880 to 1882 (Stations 880, 883, 
893, 894, 938, 947, 994, 997, 998, 1028, 1029, 1122, 1124, 1140). At Station 
947, in 312 fathoms, it was very abundant, several hundred having been taken 
at a single haul; at most of the other localities it was taken in small numbers. 
The following specimens were dredged by the Blake, in 1880. 
Station. Fathoms. N. Lat. W. Long. Specimens, 
306 524 41° 32! 50” G5°4bby 0 1 
309 304 40° 11’ 40” 68° 22" <Q” 3 j. 
322 362 33° 10/ 76° 32’ 15” a 
Hitherto all the specimens of this species that have been taken have been 
occupied by Parapagurus pilosimanus, which has not been found by us in any 
other carcineecium. 
The young Epizoanthus evidently attaches itself to the shell when the crab 
is very small, for in most cases the enclosed shell is of small size, but by the 
growth of the polyp the aperture is enormously extended, so as amply to ac- 
commodate the crab after it has reached a large size. In the majority of 
specimens examined the original shell still remains, though usually entirely 
covered by the integument, but in some cases it seems to have been entirely 
dissolved and removed. 
This species, although in habit like some of the varieties of Epizoanthus 
Americanus, is easily distinguished. It grows to a much larger size, with 
much larger polyps, and the surface is much smoother, more lubricous and 
translucent, and is destitute of the firmly adherent coating of sand always 
present on E. Americanus; moreover, the latter has a much less regular ar- 
rangement of the polyps, which usually stand out in radial directions, but at 
various angles. 
