NO. 1658. ALCYONARIA OF THE CALIFORNIAN COAfiT—XUTTfXG. 7^3 



This species is nearest U. magnijlora, from which it differs greatly 

 in size and in the character and disposition of the zooids. * 

 Type-specimen. — In Museum of University of CaHfornia. 



Family PROTOPTILID.E. 



Polyps with calyces, arranged on both sides of the rachis in a single 

 series or in indistinct rows. 



Genus DISTICHOPTILUM. 



Slender forms with the axis extended throughout. Polyps uniserial, 

 those on opposite sides alternating. Calyces bilobed, appressed. 

 Zooids normally three to each polyp. Spicules numerous. 



DISTICHOPTILUM VERRILLII Studer. 



Plate LXXXVII, fig. 10. 

 Distichoptilum verrillii Studer, Bull. Mus. Comp. ZooL, XXV, No. 5, 1894 p. 59. 



Colony very slender, having a total length of 225 mm. The axis 

 extends throughout the stem and rachis, ending below in a thin, 

 curved, transparent bulb that resembles a maple seed in outline. 

 Distal end of axis bare. Length of stem 50 mm. There is an enlarge- 

 ment about halfway up the stem. 



The polyps are in opposite series, but are implanted toward the 

 dorsal rather than the -ventral side. Calyces adherent on their inner 

 side, the outer side being straight and about 25 mm. long and passing 

 insensibly into the rachis. The margin is wdthout regular teeth, 

 although the points of the spicules sometimes project, giving a jagged 

 appearance. In places the poljrps are nearly subopposite, and are 

 well toward the dorsal aspect of the rachis. The pairs of calyces are 

 adnate to each other by their inner surfaces, and the alternate pairs 

 are rotated to the right and left so that the right-hand polyp of a 

 lower pair is under the line separating the calyces of the pair imme- 

 diately above. 



The zooids are arranged in sets of three along the outer sides of the 

 calyces, and one or two just above each calyx. They appear as mere 

 openings, surrounded by a fence of spicules, and are entirely immersed. 



The spicules are slender needles, covering the entire surface, except- 

 ing the central dorsal line of the rachis and small areas on the iimer 

 sides of calycular margins. 



Color. — In alcohol very light pink, owing to the spicules. Rachis 

 white, or nearly so. The bulb and swelling are pale yellow. 



Z^is^n&u^ion.— Station 4387, 32° 29' 30" N., 118° 05' W., 1,000 

 fathoms. 



The types were taken from Station 3431, latitude 23° 59' X., longi- 

 tude 108° 40' W., 995 fathoms, and Station 3398, latitude 1° 07' N., 

 longitude 80° 02' W., 1,573 fathoms. 



