Part IT.—WStichodactyline and Zoanthece. 163 
peristome somewhat elevated. ‘Towards the periphery the tentacles are so close 
that the actual surface of the disc can scarcely be seen; centrally, as the rows 
begin to cease, the disc itself is more exposed. Ina large specimen, 160 rows were 
counted near the periphery, the longest row containing 24 tentacles, all of which 
communicate with the same mesenterial space ; interspaces may occur at almost 
any point showing where tentacles have failed to develop. Usually no serial order 
in the lengths of the various rows is apparent, though in young examples an 
arrangement in three or four orders can sometimes be made out. In larger speci- 
mens, all kinds of irregularities in the way of omissions may occur; a bifid 
example is occasionally come upon, and small tentacles are seen in process of 
development all round the margin. 
A single outermost cycle alternates with all the radial rows (PI. x1., fig. 7). 
Viewed from within, in dissections, the rows of tentacles are seen to communi- 
cate with the endoccelic chambers by large, closely arranged, circular apertures ; 
the outermost cycle is exoccelic in position. The tentacles are short and digitiform, 
but vary a little im shape and size, according to the amount of distension ; some- 
times they are quite collapsed. In the preserved condition the tentacles of some 
polyps retain the finger-shape in all, while, in most, they become short and vesicle- 
like, a denser apical area denoting the extent of the distribution of the nematocysts. 
The surface of the tentacles may be very finely fluted, from apex to base, in 
preserved specimens, and the discal ectoderm forms still fmer ridges and furrows. 
The mouth is large and oval ; two gonidial grooves are always present, readily 
distinguished by their thick lips. In large polyps three grooves are sometimes 
met with. ; 
The base is white or cream-coloured ; the column white or cream below, and a 
little darker above. Sometimes large, irregular, green patches may occur on the 
column and distally irregular vertical rows of small, oval-shaped, green areas 
represent the verruce, the number and closeness varying in the same specimen 
in different rows. ‘The disc may be a lighter or darker olive brown, and the 
tentacles are the same, but irregular patches of different imtensity are usually 
exhibited. 
The peristome is a brownish yellow, the lips a rich yellow, the stomodeal 
wall white. 
The waters at Port Antonio contain a remarkable colour variety. The entire 
column and disc, with the exception of the green verruce and a slight brown tint 
on the peristome, are colourless and perfectly transparent. The tentacles, on the 
other hand, are a clear, delicate, sulphur yellow. It is scarcely possible to imagine 
a form differing more in colour from the ordinary condition ; seen on the dark 
sea-floor, they are very attractive objects. Odd brown tentacles may be scattered 
among the yellow ones, and one or two examples showed considerable areas of 
