Description of a new genus and species of Alcyonoid polyp

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[From the Proceedings of the Cal. Academy of Sciences, August 18, 1873.]

Description of a New Genus and Species of Aleyonoid ‘Polyp.
BY ROBERT E. C. STEARNS.

At a meeting of the California Academy of Sciences, held on the third day of
February, 18735, a paper was read by me, entitled “ Remarks on a New Alcyc-
noid Polyp, from Burrard’s Inlet ;” * in which [ gave a resume of the discus-
sions, notices, ete., in this country and in England, arising from the examination
by several naturalists, of certain “switch ”-like forms, which had been received
by different parties from the Gulf of Georgia (more particularly from Burrard’s
Inlet, in said gulf); several specimens of said “ switches” being in the Museum
of the California Academy.

These “ switches,” or rods, were referred by Dr. Gray, of the British Museum,
to his genus “ Osteocella,” and by Mr. Sclater’s correspondent stated to belong to
“a sort of fish ;” but by the majority of scientific gentlemen who had seen these
“switches” they were regarded as belonging to a species of Alcyonoid Polyp.
I expressed the belief that they belonged to a species of Umbellularia.

At a meeting of the California Academy, held on the evening of August 4,
1873, Dr. James Blake presented a specimen of the polyp of which these so-
called switches are the axes, which had been sent to him from the Gulf of
Georgia by his friend, Capt. Doane. This specimen was one of six or seven
sent at the same time, all of which were in a tolerable state of preservation,
though, as might have been anticipated, the more delicate tissues of the polyps
are somewhat decomposed, and some of the specimens are in some places lacer-
ated. They all are, however, sufficiently perfect to determine the true position,
and show that the “switches” are, as was supposed, the supporting stalks or
axes of an Alcyonoid Polyp “ related or pertaining to the group Pennatulide.”

At the last meeting I referred the specimen before the Academy to that divi-
sion of the Pennatulide known as Virgularia, but upon a subsequent examina-
tion of the authorities, I find that those forms in which the axis is unilateral,
or on one side, come within the Genus Pavonaria of Cuvier.

The only species heretofore described so far as I can learn, and on which
this genus is based is P. quadrangularig, of which a lengthy and~ interesting
description from Prof. Forbes, is given in Johnston’s British Zoophytes (Vol.
I, pp. 164-166). In that species however, the axis is “acutely quadrangular ”’
and the polyps are arranged in three longitudinal series, corresponding to three
of the “angles of the stem.”

* Vide Proceed. Cal. Acad, Sciences, Vol. V., Part I., pp. 7-12.

2 -

In the specimen presented by Dr. Blake the style or axis is round and the
polyps are arranged in two longitudinal unilateral series, which conform to the
convexity of the external fleshy covering. With these differences, I think I am
justified in placing it in a new sub-genus for which I propose the name of Ver-
rillia in honor of Prof. Verrill of Yale College.

Genus PAVONARIA, Cuvier.
Sub-genus VerrIL11A, Stearns.

Polypidom linear-elongate, round, oval or ovate in cross-section. Axis round,
Slender, bony ; polyps arranged in two unilateral longitudinal series.

Verrillia Blakei, Stearns; n. s.

Polyp-mass or polypidom, of a flesh or pink color, linear, elongate, attenuate ;
polypiferous portion about three fourths of the entire length, rounded oval to
ovate-elliptic in cross section, and from three fourths to one inch in greatest di-
ameter, flatly tapering toward the tip, as well as decreasing in the opposite
direction to where the polypiferous rows terminate or become obsolete. From
this latter point to the beginning of the base or root, a portion of the polypi-
dom, equal to about one sixth of its entire length, is quite slender, being only
about twice the diameter of the naked axis, and the surface quite smooth ; said
portion, as well as the base, is round (in cross section); the basal part is from
one ninth to one eleventh of the entire length, and about one inch in diameter,
with the surface longitudinally wrinkled or contracted, presenting a ridged or
fibrous appearance.

Style or axis long, slender, white, hard, bony, somewhat polished, about three
sixteenths (3-16) of an inch in diameter in the thickest part, tapering gradually
toward the tip, and attenuated, with surface somewhat roughened toward the
basal extremity. Inclosed in the polyp-mass or polypidom, the axis is central
from the base to where the polyp-rows begin, when it soon becomes marginal or
lateral, forming a prominent rounded edge (free from polyps) on one side of the
polypiferous portion of the whole.

From near the sides of the axial edge the polyp-rows start, and run oblique-
ly upward to the opposite side, where they nearly meet, presenting, when that
side is observed from above, a concentric chevron or 4-like arrangement, modi-
fied by the convexity of the polypidom. The more conspicuous polyp-rows
show from nine to fourteen polyps, with occasional intermediate rows of three
or more polyps.

The length of the most perfect of Dr. Blake’s specimens was sixty-six (66)
inches ; of which, commencing at the tip, a length of forty-eight and a quarter
(4814) inches was occupied by the polyp-rows, which numbered two hundred
and forty-five (245), or twice that number when both sides or arms of the chey-
ron or A are considered. The number of polyps in each row was, in this speci-
men, from eight (8) to eleven (11), with occasional intermediate shorter rows of
from three (3) to seven (7). Estimating ten to the row, this specimen exhibited
about five thousand polyps, all of which, as well as the polyps in the other speci-
mens, were filled with ova, of an orange color. In the next section of this spec-
imen, the length between the last polyp-row and the swell of the base or root, is

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eleven and one quarter (1114) inches ; thence to the termination of the base, six
(6) inches.

The average dimensions of thirty-six (86) of the axes in the Museum of the
California Academy is five feet six and one third inches in length, and the diam-
eter of the largest, nine thirty-seconds of an inch; diameter of smallest speci-
men, one sixteenth of an inch.

Dr. Blake’s specimens were preserved in a mixture of glycerine and alcohol,
and the more delicate tissue of the polyps appears to have been, somewhat in-
jured by the latter ingredient.

Additional specimens of the above species, from the same locality, have been
received from J S. Lawson, Esq., of the U. S. Coast Survey, by George Dav-
idson, Esq., President of the Academy. These latter were put in glycerine
only, and are in better condition than those received by Dr. Blake.

Of the specimens received from Mr. Lawson, some individuals are younger
than either of Dr. Blake’s. In these the polyp-rows are farther apart, and
there are not so many polyps in the row ; neither do the ends of the rows ap-
proximate so closely on the side opposite the axial edge; the polyps being not
nearly so many in the same length, or presenting (as do some of Dr. Blake’s”
specimens) so crowded an appearance. In cross-section through the polypiferous
portions, the younger individuals are less oval or acutely-ovate than in the older
specimens. A comparison of individuals indicates an external differentiation,
analagous to that displayed by specimens of the same species in Virgularia.
The general aspect of this species, judging from the figure in Plate XXXI. of
Johnston’s British Zoophytes (2d ed.), is like P. quadrangularis from Oban, on-
ly in that species the rows of polyps it is stated, are composed of “four, five
or six polyps in a row,” one figure showing seven.

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