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Show 1894.] OF THE FAMILY VERETILLIDJE. 377 Specimen Total length Length of rhachis Length of stalk Breadth of rhachis at centre: Ion gest diameter1 shortest diameter1 Breadth of stalk, upper end: longest diameter shortest diameter 1 50 39 11 29 21 7 5 2 56 44 12 26 8 5 3 46 37 9 28 13 6 4-5 4 56 42 14 26 8 6 5 59 47 12 29 7 6 6 50 37 13 6 4 The autozooids were very well expanded in all the specimens, and the colony was therefore also presumably in a state of distension ; this may perhaps be attributable to gradual death, as their label stated that they had been " washed ashore in large quantities." I have seen similar distension in washed-up specimens of Alcyonium. The only traces of colour remaining were (1) in the upper half or two-thirds of the autozooids (exclusive of the tentacles) ; these are of a dark purple tint, the exact seat of which is the upper part of the mesenteries ; (2) on the surface of the rhachis of some specimens, in which the surface of the ccenosarc is of a rich reddish brown. The most expanded autozooids are about 10 m m . in length and are entirely devoid of spicules. No calyx of spicules appears round their bases, such as occurs in some forms. They are set more closely together than in any Cavernularia with which I am acquainted,-so closely that in most specimens no siphonozooids could be seen without carefully parting the autozooids; generally they stand about 1 m m . or less apart, but in fig. 2 I have drawn part of an inflated specimen in which they stand about 1*5 m m . apart. The siphonozooids, as will appear from this figure, are of various size; they stand out against the dark coenosarc as brilliant white ovals (the stomodaea) from which radiate white lines (their mesenteries) ; they are not surrounded by prominent calyces of spicules. In section they showed the usual eight mesenteries and an enormous ventral groove or siphonoglyphe. At the junction of rhachis and stalk is a ring of siphonozooids, without interspersed autozooids, about 1-2 m m . in breadth. The rhachis, as will be seen from the dimensions of specimens 1 and 3, is slightly compressed. The stalk is considerably compressed in the same plane (spec. 1-6); both flattened surfaces exhibit a deep median furrow, which commences at the ring of siphonozooids just mentioned, and is continued nearly to the base (tip) of the stalk. Lesser longitudinal furrows were irregular and apparently the result of shrinkage. Two specimens were opened in order to obtain the axis. In the one case this was in two fragments : the upper end of one 1 Given only in specimens which have not obviously been crushed in packing. |
