EASTERN COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. 



11 



Titanideum suberosum Agassiz, MS. 



Spongy Keratophjte Ellis, Nat. Hist. Corallines, p. 63, tab. 20, P. Q. R. (1754). Gorgonia suberosa Ellis and Solander, p. 93 

 (1786), (nec Pallas nec Esper). Briarcum suberosum Dana, Zooph., p. 643 (1846). 



The corallum, consisting of one or several stalks, which rise from a thick, broadly spread- 

 ing and incrusting base, branches in an irregularly dichotomous manner, the branches 

 curving outward at the base, often to a considerable distance, and then rising nearly par- 

 allel, forming a somewhat fastigiate clump. Branches long, rigid, subcylindrical, taper- 

 ing slightly towards the obtuse ends, often crooked, strongly compressed at the axils, from 

 two to eight inches long, and one quarter of an inch in average diameter. Cells oval, 

 perfectly level with the surface, arranged equally on all sides of the branches, nearly in 

 quincunx, about one twelfth of an inch distant. Coenenchyma firm and thick, with a 

 smooth surface. Axis in alcoholic specimens very distinct, dark fuscous ; when dry the 

 axis is somewhat less distinct than before, yellowish brown, and closely adherent to the 

 coenenchyma. 



Color uniform orange or dark red. 



Height of the largest specimen examined, 12 inches ; diameter of the trunk, .6. This 

 specimen divides, one and a half inches above the base, into three primary branches, and 

 these afterwards into twelve secondary ones, some of which are again furcately divided. 

 (Coll. Mus. Comp. Zool.) 



Charleston, S. C. ; Stono Inlet ; Beaufort, N. C. 



This singular and very interesting species, first described and very well figured by Ellis 

 in 1754, seems to have been entirely unknown to later naturalists, until rediscovered by 

 Prof. Agassiz at Charleston in 1852. Subsequently it was dredged by Mr. Stimpson at 

 Beaufort, N. C. The former specimens are dull orange, the latter deep red, but in other 

 respects they agree perfectly. The finest and largest specimens were recently obtained 

 by Dr. J. W. Page, U. S. A., at Stono Inlet, and presented by him to the Museum of Com- 

 parative Zoology. 



Sub-order III. Pennatulid*. 



The characters of this group have been briefly indicated above (page 3). It corresponds 

 nearly with the genus Pennatula of Linne and Pallas, Polypes flottants Lamarck, Pennatu- 

 laires Blainville, Pennatiilina Ehrenberg, Pennatulidcv Fleming, Dana, Milne-Edwards, Her- 

 klotz, etc. 



This division, if we omit Umbellularia, which is imperfectly known, contains four well- 

 marked families, viz : I. Pennatulln^e Dana (restricted), including Pennatula, Pteroides, 

 Pteromorpha, Sarcoptilus, Ptilosarcus, Lioptilum ; II. Pavonaresle Dana (restricted), embracing 

 Funiculina, Virgularia, Lygus, Stylatula, SydaUum ; III. Veretillin^e Gray (emended), con- 

 taining Veretillum, Cavermdaria, Sarcobelcmnon, Lituaria, Kophobelcmnon ; IV. RENiLLiNiE Gray 

 (emended), embracing only Rcnilla and an undescribed genus. 



Of these families the last is alone represented on our Atlantic coast, so far as known at 

 present ; but on the Pacific coast two genera of Pennatidince have been found, and also two 

 species of Stylatula. 



