REPORT ON THE ACTINIARIA. 3T ^ , 



Zoanthus confertus* Verrill (PL I. fig. 12). ' 



Polyps with thin transparent body-wall, so closely packed as to be polygonally 

 flattened. 



Habitat. — Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope ; 10-20 fathoms. 



Dimensions. — Of the individual polyps — height, 0'6-0"8 cm. ; breadth, 0'3-0"4 em. 



The species is in general structure very close to the preceding, but difi'ers in the thin 

 consistence of the body-wall, through which may be seen the mesenteries, and in the 

 compact arrangement of the polyps. The latter being consequently compressed 

 polyhedrally, a character of importance is afforded for the species, which is further 

 marked off by the transparence and delicacy of the body-wall. 



Genus Epizoanthus, Verrill. 



Integument incrusted, coeneuchyme (mostly?) lamellar; sphincter simple, meso- 

 gloeal ; mesenteries arranged on the macrotype ; colonies (mainlj' ?) parasitic. 



Epizoanthus thalamophilus* n. sp. (PL L fig. 3 ; PL IV. figs. 7, 8). 



Incrustation scanty, exclusively composed of Foraminiferal shells, which are 

 arranged on the individual polyps into 15-20 longitudinal rows, bifurcating 

 downwards ; body-wall transparent ; tentacles 30-40, very long, and arranged in 

 two rows. 



Habitat. — Station 299, December 14, 1875 ; 2160 fathoms; on Gastropod shells. 



Dimensions. — Height of the contracted individuals, 0'2-l'3 cm. ; diameter at the 

 base, 0"9-l"5 cm. 



"The colony of seventeen individuals has settled on a deserted Eusiis shell about 

 8 cm. long. The polyps are principally situated on the back of the shell, and only the 

 five young individuals at its apex are arranged in a whorl round it. The region round the 

 aperture of the shell is free from polyjis ; they rise with elliptical bases from a common 

 coenencii) iiii', nnd arch upwards like a dome. The largest specimens have a base of 

 10-15 mm. in diameter, and are 13 mm. high ; l)ut we find every transition to the smallest 

 specimens, which appear as flat elongated projections with a base of 5-9 mm., and a 

 height of r5-3 mm. The coenenchyme is a continuous sheet, 0"3-0'5 mm. in thicknes.s, 

 which covers the shell as far as the colony reaches. Towards its termination it becomes 

 constantly thinner and more transparent, till it ends as a very delicate pellicle, whicli 

 may be easily rubbed oil'. All the polyps were in a highly contracted condition ; and 

 at the dome-shaped summit lies, on a prominence which is bounded by a circular furrow, 

 the entrance to the interior ; it is liardly recognisable as an ojicning, and is formed by 

 the indrawn parts of the body-wall. The latter is of slight thickness, so that the 



