32 



The calyces are nearly all lateral and subalternate, with a few distributed on the front, 

 but none on the back of the colony. There are no terminal polyps; the branches ending in a 

 flat, triangular expansion with calyces at the outer corners. 



The individual calyces are short tubes, or much truncated cones, a typical one measuring 

 1.5 mm. in height to margin, and 2.2 mm. in diameter at base. The calycular walls are filled 

 with spindles which are unusually small in proportion to those of the ccenenchyma. They are 

 generally vertical in position, although not infrequently they are oblique, and there is a distinct 

 tendency toward an en chevron arrangement. There are no distinct marginal points, although 

 the margin is often sinuous, resulting in eight low elevations. The polyps are not retractile 

 beyond the collaret, as a general thing, and the operculum is high and dome-shaped, consisting 

 of a number of straight, red spindles longitudinally arranged on the dorsal surface of the 

 tentacles. These spindles lie side by side, ancl so completely cover the retracted tentacles that 

 almost nothing of the real surface can be seen. On the basal part of the tentacles the spindles 

 are arranged en chevron. 



The ccenenchyma is covered with the characteristic long spindles of this genus. 



S p i c u 1 e s. The spicules of this species are all spindles, not large or heavy for this 

 genus, as a general thing, and those of the calyces much smaller than those of the ccenenchyma. 

 The latter shows an occasional spindle much larger than the others, sometimes reaching 2 mm. 

 in length, and of a deep purple color. 



C o 1 o r. The colony is coral red, the spicules usually scarlet, but with an occasional 

 purple one. The axis is olive brown. 



General distribution. The type of this species was secured by the Challenger off 

 Japan, at a depth of 325 fathoms. Thomson and Henderson report it from near Ceylon. 



4. Muricella pcrramosa Ridley. 



Muricella perramosa Ridley. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 5, Vol. X, 



1882, p. 128. 

 Muricella perramosa Wright and Studér. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. 126. 



Stat. 47. Bay of Bima, near South Fort. 55 meters. Mud with sand. 



Stat. 80. 2° 25' S., n 7 43' E. Borneo Bank. 40 — 50 meters. 



Stat. 164. i°42'.5 S., I30°47'.5 E. near New Guinea. 32 meters. 



Stat. 260. 5°36'.5S., i32°55'.2E. near Kei Islands. 90 meters. 



Colony fiabellate in form, 11.4 cm. in height, and with a spread of 11.6 cm. The main 

 stem gives off three straggling stubs of branches from its basal 2.5 cm. Then it sends off a 

 pair of subequal and opposite branches, one of which forms nearly half of the colony, sending 

 off rudely alternate branchlets, some of which anastomose with each other. The calyces are mainly 

 lateral in position, leaving a broad posterior, and narrower anterior median area comparatiyely 

 free. The calyces are quite closely approximated, being usually but 1 mm. apart, ancl often less. 



The individual calyces are conical in shape, the cones leaning towards the distal ends 

 of the branches. Their walls are filled with rather slender spindles which are usually vertical 

 in position with their distal points projecting a short distance above the margin. There is a 



