THECOl'SAMMIA. 43 



THECOPSAMMIA Pourt. 



Corallura simple, attached, without eostre, or only rudimentary ones 

 on the peduncle, covered with a complete epitheca. This genus is 

 intermediate between Balanophyllia and Heteropsammia ; like the 



latter, it is destitute of distinct cost*, but has an epitheca like some of 

 the Balanophyllia 1 . more developed indeed than in any other repre- 

 sentative of the family. 



Thecopsammia tintinnabulum Pourt. 

 Thecopsammia tintinnabulum Pourt. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., No. 7. 



Plate I., figs. 9 and 10. . 



Corallum subcylindrical, or almost hemispherical, with turbinate 

 base and small, abruptly constricted peduncle. Wall thick, very 

 porous and vermiculated. Epitheca well developed, seldom rising 

 quite to the border of the calicle, its tissue penetrating the mural pores 

 and solidifying the wall. Calicle slightly elliptical, moderately deep. 

 Septa in six unequal systems and four cycles, entire, thin, not 

 exsert. with fine granulations ; those of the fourth and fifth order 

 scarcely bent towards those of the third, and not connected with the 

 latter and with each other. The septa of the first and second order 

 connected with the columella. The two opposite systems on the 

 longer side of the calicle always incomplete in one of their halves, and 

 one or two of the other systems also incomplete in the same manner. 

 The columella papillose and porous, sometimes sublamellose, and form- 

 ing three distinct masses in the adult, the middle one being largest. 



Height 1.5 to 2 cm. Diameters 1.2 and 1.4 cm.; the average size is 

 rather less. 



The living polyp is of a handsome pinkish-orange color; the mouth 

 oblong, and surrounded by rather numerous conical tentacles. 



Oir Key West, in 120 fathoms. 

 Off Key West, in 125 fathoms. 

 Off Key West, in 135 fathoms. 

 Off Key West, in 138 fathoms. 

 Off Marquesas, in 1 10 fathoms. 

 Off Key West, in 154 fathoms. 



