56 
ANNIE MATTHEWS. 
to grow larger themselves, and the number of tentacular 
pinnules increased gradually from seven to twelve or thirteen. 
When last examined (September 16th, 1914), although the 
best developed colony consisted of about thirty-two polyps, 
they still all grew out of a common flat encrusting base. 
The following account of the production of new polyps from 
4he parent individual by stolonal gemmation is a summary of 
observations made on the young stages in the laboratory and 
the older ones from the raft. Young colonies trawled from 
the Rame-Eddystone grounds, and growing on Chgetopterus 
tabes, Polycarpa, etc., were found quite similar in their plan 
of growth. 
Detailed Account of Colony Formation. 
About three weeks after fixation the circular base of the 
polyp produced a blunt outgrowth opposite the two dorsal 
mesenteries (Text-fig. 17, St.). This stolon increased in size, 
became of circular outline and separated from the parent 
polyp by a slight constriction. Soon it produced a bud which 
rapidly grew into a second polyp (Text-figs. 18 and 19), with 
its dorsal mesenteries adjacent to the dorsal mesenteries of 
the parent. 1 Then a second bud formed quite similarly from 
1 Hickson (2) describes an Alcyonium polyp which bore one bud. 
The figure he gives (PI. iii, fig. 24), indicates budding from the lateral 
wall of the parent polyp, and not stolonal gemmation. It is difficult 
to reconcile this example with the present account, and no explanation 
can be offered. 
Fig. 17. Aboral view of polyp, showing outgrowth of stolon 
previous to formation of first bud. Fig. 18. Similar view of 
well-expanded polyp with one bud. The two pairs of dorsal 
mesenteries are seen opposite one another, and the long axes 
of the mouths lie along one line. Fig. 19. Lateral view of 
colony of two. Size of polyps very similar (from finger-bowl). 
Fig. 20. Oral view of parent polyp and two buds (from 
Clisetopterus tubes). [In Figs. 20 and 22-25 the common 
stolon is ruled in with faint lines.] Fig. 21. Aboral view of 
polyp with three buds (raft). Figs. 22-24. Oral view of 
colonies showing four, six and eight buds respectively. Buds 
numbered in order of appearance. Fig. 25. Colony with three 
nows of buds — aboral view (raft). 
