PEN NAT U LAC EA. 



Veretitlum cynomorium (Pallas) Cuvier. 



From Stat. 37 (Cape Bojador) there are no fewer 

 than 31 intact colonies of this species, besides another 

 fragmentary colony. They are all more or less contracted, 

 especially the stalks, which are unusually short and thick. 



Distichoptilum gracile Verrill (?). 



Part of a colony from Stat. 25 in the neighbourhood 

 of Gibraltar (2055 metres), probably belongs to Disticho- 

 ptilum gracile. The fragment, 458 mm long, includes 



Fig. 1. Spicules of the fragment of Distichoptilum 



from Stat. 25 (X 100). a: Spicules of the polypcalyx. 



b: Spicules from the sarcosoma of the rachis. 



only the polypary, there being no trace either of the stalk 

 or of the upper part. 



It has a yellowish white stem. The dorsal side is 

 broad, naked and roundish. On the ventral side the naked 

 streak is narrow, decreasing upwards. In the sarcosoma 

 of the ventral side we see numerous red calcareous spicules, 

 which give this part of the rachis a reddish colour; such 

 spicules, though less brightly coloured, are numerous also 

 in the dorsal part of the rachis. On both sides of the 



stem we find a single row of small polyps completely 

 contracted within their calyces, which are built up of 

 compactly studded, longitudinally arranged, dark-red spi- 

 cules. At the opening they converge in two lateral more 

 or less prominent spines, between which irregular smaller 

 spines can now and then be traced. 



The polyps of the lower part of the fragment are 

 seated strictly opposite; the nearer the lop, the more 

 ventrally are they arranged, nevertheless they must on the 

 whole, be characterized as lateral. The axis is round, 

 with flattened sides. 



On closer examination the zooids are seen to be 

 placed just above the calyces of the polyps, as described 

 by Jungersen 1 ) in Distichoptilum gracile, though differing 

 from his description in having no calyces at all. Whether 

 this is a specific character will be a matter for further 

 investigation. 



The spicules (textfig. 1) are tripennate. Those of the 

 stem have almost parallel sides, but are smaller than those 

 of the calyces of the polyps, which attain a length of 

 1 mm, are spindle-shaped, and of a darker red tinge than 

 those of the stem. 



Umbellula Giintheri Kolliker. 

 PI. fig 1. 



Two specimens from Stats. 47 and 48, west of the 

 Canaries. 



Kolliker 2 ) describes the polyps as being alternately 

 disposed. In the accompanying figures, however, we find the 

 polyps (the terminal one not included) disposed in pairs, the 

 upper pair being strictly opposite, while the lower pair is 

 slightly subalternate. Kolliker found one "rudimentary" 

 polyp within the cluster, but he does not indicate its 

 position either in the text or in the figures. A diagram 

 sketched from Kolliker's descriptions and figures, is given 

 in textfig. 2 b, where the probable seat of the "rudimen- 

 tary" polyp is marked; it may probably turn out to be 

 the young polyp of the cluster, a fifth and secondary one. 

 The "Challenger" specimen represents an intermediate 

 stage between the two "Michael Sars" specimens. 



') Jungersen, Pennatulida: Den danske Ingolf-Expedition, Bd. V, No. 1, 1904, p. 62. 



2 ) Kolliker: Report on the Pennatulida: Zool. Chall. Exp., Part. II, 1880, p. 18, pi. IX, figs. 34 a and b. 



