EUDENDRIUM GRACILK 7 



off alternately at short and nearly equal intervals along the stem and 

 branches ; main branches and ramuli annulated at their origin ; stem with 

 a few ann Illations here and there. 

 Gonosome not known. 



Dredged S. S. W. of Tortugas from a depth of 60 fathoms. 



The specimen was destitute of both gonosome and hydranths, but its very 

 slender non-fascicled stem, and short regularly disposed hydranthal ramuli, 

 afford characters sufficiently diagnostic. In the absence, however, of hy- 

 dranths and gonosome, the species is only provisionally referred to Eu- 

 dendrium. 



Eudendrium laxum. 

 PI III 



Trophosome. — Hydrocaulus attaining a height of about two inches, irreg- 

 ularly branched, not fascicled ; ultimate ramuli alternate, rather long, and 

 with a few annulations at their origin. 



Gonosome. — Sporosacs (male) bithalamic, springing in a verticil of about 

 ten from the body of the hydranth. 



Dredged off Sand Key from a depth of 100 fathoms. 



This is a loosely branched, somewhat straggling species, with unusually 

 long, flexile, hydranth-bearing ramuli. 



Imbedded in the ccenosarcal w^alls of the lower end of the hydrocaulus 

 and in those of the hydrorhiza, there occurred in the specimen clear 

 spherical bodies of whose nature T am unable to give any satisfactory 

 account. They showed no trace of a nucleus, but are too regular to be 

 mere lacunae. Their real nature can scarcely be determined without an 

 examination in the recent hydroid. 



Eudendrium gracile. 

 PL IV. Figs. 1, 2. 



Trophosome. — Hydrocaulus attaining a height of upwards of an inch, 

 slender, fascicled at extreme base, alternately branched ; ultimate ramuli 

 with nearly obsolete annulation at their origin. 



Gonosome not known. 



Dredged at Double-Headed Shot Key from a depth of from 3 to 4 fathoms. 



This is a slender and delicate .species. The hydranths were well pre- 

 served in the specimen, but no gonosome was present. 



