532 MK. H. FAKQUHAR ON" SOME 



numerous young ones grouped around them.j evidently as they 

 bad attached themselyes round the parent when born. 



COEYNACTIS HaDDONT, U. Sp. 



Base exceeding the column, often widely extended, sometimes 

 with an irregular wavy margin. Column exceedingly variable, 

 cylindrical or pillar-shaped, often contracted in the middle, 

 sometimes vase-shaped; surface smooth, without papillae and with- 

 out suckers ; transversely wrinkled when contracted; substance 

 firmly fleshly. Disc often greatly exceeding the column, circular, 

 usually concave in expansion, the edge of the disc and the peri- 

 pheral tentacles overhanging the column ; radii distinct. Mouth 

 linear, prominent, sometimes assuming a circular conical form. 

 (Esophagus strongly ribbed. Tentacles in two series: a series 

 of marginal principal tentacles, and a series of intermediate 

 accessory tentacles. The principal tentacles are arranged in two 

 cycles, with about 40 in each cycle. All the tentacles of the 

 same cycle are equal to one another ; those of the inner cycle 

 when fully extended are about three times as long as those of 

 the outer cycle. The short principal tentacles on the periphery 

 of the disc alternate with the longer ones within, and form radial 

 series with the intermediate accessory tentacles. Each radial 

 series consists of a principal tentacle on the periphery of the 

 disc and from two to four accessory intermediate tentacles. 

 These radial series of tentacles correspond to alternate mesen- 

 terial chambers, apparently the exocoeles. The tentacles forming 

 radial series decrease in size from without inwards. The shafts 

 of the tentacles are cylindrical, tapering, with a narrow smooth 

 neck just below the knob, succeeded by a region covered with 

 minute ridges and papillae, becoming smooth again at the base. 

 In contraction the tentacles are transversely wrinkled. The 

 knobs of the tentacles are very rich in nematocysts, adhering 

 to anything with which they may come into contact. Although 

 not very sensitive the tentacles can be completely retracted, tbe 

 sphincter muscle evidently being fairly well developed. The 

 colour of this species is very variable. I have been able to 

 distinguish the following seven varieties : — 



(1) Column deep reddish orange, passing into chocolate-brown 

 above, frequently with a greyish or brownish-grey tinge near 

 the base. Disc deep madder- or chocolate-brown, with an 

 undefined purplish band about halfway between the mouth and 



