to the basal elongation of the stomodaeum, both of which characteristics are in my opinion 
only sufficient for a specific difference but not for a generic difference. I am inclined to unite 
both, these genera in one, under the name of Bathypathes wherein Brook s Bathypathes can at 
the utmost form a sub-genus Eubathypathes and Schizopathes Br. can appear as a second sub¬ 
genus. I must add that by examining more ample material one might weld this sub-genera 
wholly without further sub-division except into species. The genera Savagliopsis Schultze and 
Tropidopathes Silberfeld,' belonging to the Crustosae, in the tribe of the Aptuchaephora, are 
each represented by only one species, and although. after the examining of moie ample material 
it will be easier to discern between generic and specific characteristics, we must for the present 
abide by the opinion of Silberfeld (21) who gives as generic difference between Tropidopathes and 
Savagliopsis the concrescence of the spines on one side of the axis to a continuous crest. — 
We doubt very much whether the spines have a generic value (as to the formation of a crest 
by the spines cf. Parantipathes tristicha sp. n. on part of the stem but not on the entne colony, 
and Brook’s Bathypathes qaadribrachiata = Eubathypathes quadnbr .), but foi the moment this 
would be still uncertain; however it must be remarked that from both genera the polyps are 
unknown, so that there would be negative arguments enough to speak of Savagliopsis salici- 
formis Silberfeld. But I will readily leave the decision to the examiners of less concise material. 
To the Autakresales appertain all the other genera, viz. Leiopathes M. Edw. and H., 
Antipathes (Pallas) Schultze, Aphanipathes Brook, Parantipathes Brook, Stichopathes Brook and 
Cirripathes (Blainv.) Brook. In my opinion these genera can not be left unchanged. To begin 
with the unbranched genera Stichopathes and Cirripathes ; after Brook (1) these genera differ 
principally in the distribution of the polyps on the colony-axis. By Cirripathes they are placed 
on all sides of the axis, never in a single linear series and by Stichopathes on one side of the 
stem only. As secondary generic characteristics are given by Brook for Cirripathes-. usually 
rounded polyps with six tentacles arranged in a radiate manner; a more or less prominent oral 
cone which may show a basal constriction: five pairs of mesenteries in the oral cone and three 
below; the coenenchyma contains a system of canals which takes a direction chiefly at right 
angles to the axis of the stem. From these characteristics the number of mesenteries in and 
below the oral cone may be dropped for this is no generic speciality of Cirripathes but of all 
possible genera. By Stichopathes is given: six very long digitiform tentacles; polyps well 
developed, sometimes alternately large and small, in which case the smallei ones are hidden 
by the long tentacles of the larger polyp; transverse canals on the back of the stem, between 
successive polvps. — Hereby it is immediately to be noticed that Brook, as he remaiks him¬ 
self, could observe no polyps, since the Challenger had found no Stichopathes-sq>Q.C\&s ; in 
the collections of the British Museum only one species had dried polyps but there were no 
polyps preserved in spirit. Investigating the forms of polyps occurring by the Siboga-specimen 
of Stichopathes-sipaci&s, it strikes immediately how the generic polyp-qualities given by Brook 
only occur as specific characteristics but that it is out of the question that all these chaiacteristics 
are due to every Stichopathes- species and besides that they mostly depend from the preservation. 
At the utmost it w r ould be possible to give a generic value to the alternation of old and young 
polyps and the transverse boundary-canals between the polyps, as these characteristics occur 
