534 MR. H. FAEQUHAR ON SOME 



COBTKACTIS MOLLIS, n. Sp. 



This species is similar in form and external appearance to 

 C. Haddoni. Column pale reddish brown, becoming darker above. 

 Disc deep reddish brown. Shafts of principal tentacles brown ; 

 knobs of the lon^ principal tentacles bright purplish pink, 

 those of the shorter ones on the periphery of the disc white or 

 pinkish white ; accessory tentacles white below, becoming brown 

 above with pale pinkish knobs. 



Until quite recently I considered that this form was a well- 

 marked variety of G. Haddoni. I am now convinced, however, 

 that it is a distinct species. It never varies in colour, except 

 that the colour of those specimens not so much exposed to the 

 light is paler than that of others. It is never found on rocks, 

 but only on Lessonia, where it is extremely abundant. The 

 substance of the body is not so jfirin and more delicate than in 

 G. Haddoni. When the anatomy of the two species is worked 

 out other diiferences will probably be discovered. 



Hob. On the stems and roots of Lf^ssonia, just below low- 

 water mark, in the neighbourhood of Wellington. 



This species and an undescribed brown Sagartian, which is 

 also extremely abundant on Lessonia in the same locality, appear 

 to form the principal food of the Butter-fish {Goridodax pullus), 

 one of our finest food-fishes. Sir James Hector has pointed 

 out that the curiously formed teeth of this fish are well adapted 

 for scraping zoophytes from seaweed (' Notes on the Edible 

 Fishes of New Zealand,' p. 115). 



COEYNACTIS GBACILISj U. Sp. 



Base exceeding the column. Column cylindrical, very variable, 

 surface smooth. Dise circular, often convex, exceeding the 

 column ill expansion. Mouth linear, prominent, ffisophagus 

 ribbed. This species is very similar to G. Haddoni; the form and 

 arrangement of the tentacles are the same ; the tentacles are, 

 however, less numerous, there being about 28 in each cycle. 

 The shafts of the principal tentacles of the inner cycle are not so 

 long as in G. Haddoni, being only slightly longer than those of 

 the outer cycle. The whole animal is pellucid yellowish white, 

 except the knobs of the tentacles, which are magenta. 



This appears to be rather a rare form ; I have only found a few 

 specimens on Lessonia at Ohiro Bay near Wellington. It was 

 first discovered by Mr. H. B. Kirk. It is a smaller species than 



