L20 



I.J 1 MA 



usual manner One stem-end is injured, l>ut the other is preserved 

 intact without a sign of maceration. The latter is truncated, measuring 

 ahout 2 mm. across at the tip. The terminal surface is occupied in 

 the center by an orifice, about 1 mm. in diameter. 



The second specimen shows the superior end shaped m much the 

 same way. The truncated apex is here about 2£ mm. in diameter, the 

 central orifice measuring somewhat less than 1 mm. across. 



In both the above specimens the small terminal orifice leads into 

 a canal, which, on account of its small caliber and the dried state of the 

 specimens, can scarcely be followed downwards to any considerable 

 extent, in order to determine whether or not it stands in a direct and 

 open communication with the lumen of the stem. I would probably 

 have felt no diffidence in assuming the open condition of the passage, 

 were it not for a circumstance in connection with the third specimen 

 now before me. 



Especially well preserved is the superior end of the stem in the 

 third specimen. It, is much broader than in the others. At a point 

 3 mm. from the tip, the stem is about 3 J mm. thick ; here is seen the 

 last short lateral branch. Above this point it is somewhat swollen in a 

 manner not unlike the end of the mouth-piece of a smoking pipe. The 

 tip is here again truncated and, when seen from above, presents an oval 

 outline, measuring 5 mm. hy 4 mm. across. The orifice in the center 

 is likewise oval, being about 2£ mm. by 1^ mm. in size. It is therefore 

 surrounded by an edge of a not inconsiderable breadth, the appearance 

 of which reminds one of the marginal cuff in certain other Euplectellids. 



The moderately large size of the orifice in this specimen permits 

 the cavity it leads into to be examined under the hand-lens. The felt- 

 like inner surface presents no notable features ; but the one point, which 

 is rather against expectation, is the fact that the caveity is shut off from 

 the lumen of the stem by a partition of the same felt-like appearance as 

 the wall, although the lumen extends up right near to it with a diameter 

 of not less than 2 mm, in the uppermost part. By simply looking into 

 the iteiminal orifice, it at. first seemed possible that the reflection of 



