46 G Catiadidii Arctic Expedition, 1913-1918 



Family NEPHTHYID^ VerriU, 1869. 

 Drifa glomerata Verrill. (Sec above, Page 31 G). ' Sea Cauliflower.' 



Plate Y; Figs. 2-2a. Plate XIV; Figs. 2-2b. Plate XV; Figs. 1-5. Plate XVIIa ; 

 Figs. 2, 3. Text Figuies 5, 12. 



Three good specimens of this species weic obtained. These confirm the 

 identification of Vccringia flavesens Daiiii'l-:-cii ^\iill lliis species and show that 

 Eunephthya glomerata Molander is iiol the irue (jliiirici-iit(t Verrill. 



These later and larger specimens agree well with the original general figures 

 of Danielssen and the spicules (PI. X^^ figs. 1, 2) correspond well with his figures, 

 (same Plate, Figs. 3, 4) and also with those of my type specimen (PL V, fig. 2a). 



The largest specimen, well preserved in alcohol, but strongly contracted, 

 is 85 mm. high and 75 mm. liroad: diameter of stem, 14 mm. PL XVIIa, figs. 2. 3. 



Mr. Johansen .states that its colour has kept fairly well in alcohol. It is 

 now rather dark yellowish lirown, the color being in the soft tissues. The spicules 

 are white. The trunk-stem is relativeh- small and is strongly grooved, due to 

 vigorous contraction. It is but shghtly translucent, i-ather firm, but flexible, 

 and its somewhat thick cortex contains numerous small thorny spicules of 

 various forms, beneath the surface. 



The main trunk and the steins of the branches and branchlets are con- 

 cealed almost completely by the abundance of the crowded polyps, but can be 

 seen in places ])y pushing the groups apart. The" trunk gi"\-es rise to numerous 

 short branches from the i»ase to the summit. The branches, as now contracted, 

 have short stalks, or may be nearly sessile. Most ai'ise from one side of the 

 trunk. The branches, as covered by the crowded branchlets and polyps, are 

 mostly ovate-conical or pine-cone shaped. The branches are covered with num- 

 ci'ous small, shoi't branchlets, shajjed like the branches and bearing numerous 

 crowded ami unequal polyps, often up to twelve or fourteen on each. Some 

 occin-, however, with few polyps and small bi'anchlets are also found arising 

 directly from the main stalk. 



The polyps are so closely crowded liy contraction that they overlap or 

 appear imljricated and many of the mature ones are incurvetl more or less. 

 The larger ones are from 1 to 2 mm. long and 0-75 to 1 -Ot) mm. broad. Between 

 these are many young ones not more than half as large, but of the same form. 

 All have the tentacles closely incurved, so that they show only the convex outer 

 basal portions, \\hich form eight acute convergent lobes, containing an abund- 

 ance of small, white, rough, irregular spicules arranged chevronwise with their 

 spinules dire( th' outwardly. (See PL XIV, fig. 2a).) 



The i)oh'p bodio are more or less clavate or clove-shapetl. The anthocodial 

 part is the larger and has eight narrow raised ribs, each containing two crowded 

 rows of white claA'ate sjiicules arranged chevronwise; the jiroximal or mesen- 

 terial poi'tioii is Usually somewhat narrowei', and contaii'.s similar spicules, but 

 smaller and not so many. The two regions are not se]iarated by a constriction 

 nor by a transverse -wreath nf spicules such as (Occurs in species of the genus 

 ''/( rseiriia . 



In transveise sections of the branch stems there ai'e relatively few longi- 

 tudinal ducts. Usually 8 to 12, some much larger than 1he others. ' They often 

 contain yellow ova. and planula- (Text Fig. 12), as do the polvp bodies". The 

 niembi-ane between them is i-atlier thick and soft. Direct connections occur- 

 iietween them and also indii'ect connections by fine channels, as in most species 

 of this family. 



The spicules of the anthocodiie are mainly very thorny clubs of vaiious 

 forjns, esM:'ntiall>' lik<> those from the type (see Plate XV, figure's 2a-2g), but there 

 ai-e abo vaiiocs oil n fcmis: i m ;:lly the (li:l s aie three or four times as long as 

 broad, wilh tl e ^\i(l(> eutei' ei d ((l^■c)(d with n any Icrcer ard shorter, mostlv 

 blunt lobes and tlioins, «hicli aic mote or le>s flattered: s( me aie ^\i(le at the 



