ANTIPATHARIA. 97 



steep dextrorse spiral. They are about one and a half lengths apart, and seven is a 

 typical number from one aspect. 



The polyps are all arranged so as to face in one direction, and it is worthy of note 

 that this is away from the bare portion of the axis mentioned before. On the stem 

 they are disposed irregularly and are somewhat circular, the tentacles being inserted 

 almost equidistant from the mouth opening. The oral projection is very prominent 

 and cylindrical, and the mouth opening is circular. On the branches and pinnules 

 they are very much elongated, and the tentacles are disposed in three pairs, the 

 sagittal pair being inserted slightly below the level of the others ; but apart from 

 this the structure is much the same as in those on the stem. On the branches 

 they are separated by intervals about equal to their breadth, but on the pinnules this 

 distinct demarcation disappears. 



This species approaches most closely to Antipathes spinosa (Carter) (Hydraden- 

 drium spinosum, Carter), but differs from it both in the mode of branching and in 

 the character of the spines. In A. spinosa (Carter) the polyps had not been 

 observed when Mr. Brook described the " Challenger" Antipatharia. 



Locality : Deep water off Galle. 



Antipathes abies, Gray Plate, fig. 4. 



Several very fine specimens of this species are included in the Ceylon collection. 

 All are of the bottle-brush, or, more correctly, fir-tree type. 



One magnificent colony (A) is 65 centims. in height, the breadth varying at the 

 different parts. At 20 centims. from the base the diameter is 15 centims., but this 

 gradually diminishes to 10 centims. at 40 centims. from the base, and tapers almost 

 to a point at the top of the colony. It is attached to a stone, and for the first 

 1 1 centims. the axis is bare. Above this there are about a hundred principal branches 

 of varying sizes. The colour of the axis is black, but owing to the thin ccenenchyma 

 it presents a greyish surface. The branches have a superficial rusty or reddish- 

 brown tint, getting paler towards the top of the colony. The diameter of the axis at 

 the base is 5 millims. ; it gradually tapers upwards. 



A smaller colony (B) is also very perfect and compact. It is 30 centims. high and 

 15 centims. in diameter about half way up. From that point it ascends in a 

 symmetrical cone. From the first 9 centims. of the stem the branches have been 

 broken off, but the knob-like ends have been quite overgrown by the ccenenchyma. 



The axis is 7 millims. in diameter at the base and tapers to a point. The colour is 

 identical with that of (A). 



The main stem is slightly curved and the branches are longest on the concave 

 surface, so that in contour the colony is symmetrical. 



The mode of branching is by no means regular. At some places there are signs of 

 a spiral arrangement, but this is often interrupted by extra offshoots. The branches 

 arise very close together, often only 2 millims. apart. They are mostly in planes at 



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