444 A. R Verrill on Ascidtans from New England, 



Lissoclinum^ gen. nov. 



Allied to Leptoclmum. The colonies form more or less broad, 

 thill, encrusting masses or sheets, soft and somewhat gelatinous 

 in texture, without calcareous corpuscles. The zooids are ar- 

 ranged in more or less irregular, scattered systems, consisting of 

 many individuals placed along cloacal ducts, which are con- 

 nected with common external orifices. Branchial re<riM: 

 "thorax," equal to or larger than the abdominal. Br. 

 orifice with six papillae. Anal orifice lateral or subtn: 

 prominent. Abdomen separated from thorax by a short [ . 

 cle. Stomach with longitudinal glandular ridges. Ovarv .- . 

 lateral, when filled with eggs projecting backward beyond tiio 

 abdominal viscera. Eggs large. 



This genus differs from Didemum* and Eucoelium in havinjr 

 common cloacal ducts and orifices, as well as in the form and 

 position of the abdomen and ovary. From Leptoclmum it dif- 

 fers in the soft gelatinous texture and in the form and stnicture 

 of the zooids. 



Besides the two following species, this genus appears to in- 

 clude L. gelatinosum and L. Listerianum, both of which were 

 referred to Leptoclmum by Milne Edwards. 



Lissoclinum aureum, sp. nov. Figure 26. 



Colonies encrusting, forming nearly flat masses, about lo to 

 •20 of an inch thick, and up to an inch or more in diameter. 

 Texture soft and gelatinous, semi-transparent, 

 lar, consisting of many individuals arranged 

 along the elongated, common cloacal ducts. 

 Branchial orifice with six rather elongated and 

 slender papillae. Branchial sac broad and 

 laterally extended, with the transverse ves- 



'The'o 

 or less oval and elongated, with well-marked 

 longitudinal ridges or glands ; intestine large, 

 prolonged toward the anal orifice. The anal 

 tube is nearly terminal, conical, and more or less prominent 

 Ovary lateral, when full of eggs projecting backward beyond 

 the end of the abdomen. Color of the common mass light 

 yellow ; zooids bright orange. 



Figure 26, Lissoclinum aureum V.— One of the zooids, enlarged 10 diameters; 

 a> anal orifice; ft, branchial orifice; c, brandiial sac; <f, oesophagus; «. stomaciij 

 g, end of intestine ; o, ovary distended ^ 



• Tne genus, Didemum, as established by Savigny and adopted by Milne 

 wards, includes two distinct groups : the first having calcareous corpuscles n 

 integument ; the second soft and gebtin >us throughout. Tlie latter may be ca 



