568 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxxiv. 



Type.— Csit No. 25352, U.S.N.M. : Albatross Station 3842, south 

 coast of Molokai, 495-506 fathoms. Numerous specimens. 



The polyps of this species are very easily detached, and but few 

 remain in place on the specimens secured, most of them having fallen 

 to the bottom of the jar. 



Genus CLADISCUS Koren and Danielssen. 



Spicules absent or sparsely distributed; calyces present, but indi- 

 cated only by the eight shallow lobes around the margin. 



CLADISCUS STUDERI, new species. 

 Plate XLII, figs. 5, 6. 



Colony attaining a height of 150 mm. ; end bulb not well developed ; 

 stem with a stiff axis which is quadrangiilar in section, and measures 

 41 mm. to the lowest rudimentary polyps. 



Calj^ces long, cylindrical, crowded on ventral and lateral surfaces 

 so densely that no distinct arrangement in series can be discerned; 

 differing greatly in size, those of different sizes being intermingled, 

 except on basal part of rachis where they are all small; the longest 

 about 6 mm. in height. The calycine walls are so thin and so nearly 

 devoid of spicules that the polyps appear to be without calyces at 

 first view, and the walls are semitransparent, showing eight longitu- 

 dinal bands corresponding to the mesenteries inside. The margin 

 is ornamented by eight pointed angular flaps that are sometimes 

 everted. The polyps are retractile and have long tentacles. 



Spicules are not entirely wanting, as in other species of the genus, 

 but are very sparsely distributed, being found mainly in the eight 

 longitudinal bands on the polyp walls, where they are needle-like and 

 colorless. On superficial examination the spicules appear to be en- 

 tirely absent. 



Zooids are scattered in small groups of four or five between the 

 bases of the polyps on the dorsal surface of the rachis. The ventral 

 surface has a broad band entirely devoid of polyps and zooids. 



Color.— Yerj pale brown in the two specimens secured. 



Ttjpe.—C^t No. 25347, U.S.N.M., Albatross Station 4002, off Kauai 

 Island, 53-230 fathoms. 



Koren and Danielssen say that Gladiscus loveni and G. gracilis have 

 well marked calyces, although KoUiker overlooked the fact. G. loveni 

 is said to be entirely Avithout spicules. 



The crowding of the polyps destroys the bilateral symmetry char- 

 acteristic of the family, the only indication of such symmetry being in 

 the bare ventral band. 



