34 



Color. The colony is dark scarlet. The spicules are bright scarlet, except those in the 

 polyps, where they are colorless. 



This species can easily be distinguished from its nearest allies by the character of its 

 operculum. 



6. Muricella dubia new species. (Plate V, fïgs. 2, 2«; Plate XIX, fig. 13). 



Stat. 310. 8°30'S., H9°7'.5E. Flores Sea. ji meters. Sand. 



Colony (fragmentary) flabellate in form, 9.1 cm. in height and with a spread of 2,2 cm. 

 The main stem is denuded for 2.7 cm. of its basal portion, and then gives off a simple curved 

 branch, and above this two other branches are given off from the same side. These latter 

 branches give off one and three branchlets respectively. The stem and branches are less flexible 

 than in other species of the genus. The calyces are borne almost exclusively on the sides and 

 front of the stem and branches, where they are closely approximated and often contiguous. 



The individual calyces are verruciform, when the polyp is entirely retracted, covering 

 the latter completely; and in the shape of very low cones when the operculum is uncovered. 

 The calyx walls attain a height of 1.1 mm. and a diameter of 2 mm. They are filled with 

 rather small warty spindles irregularly placed, but tending to a vertical disposition, their points 

 forming a circlet of low blunt projections, shown only when the polyp is partly expanded. 

 The operculum is usually sunk below the level of the margin, and is of the usual Muricella 

 type, there being numerous longitudinal spindles arranged en chevron over the tentacle 

 bases. When viewed from above the operculum forms quite a regular rosette. 



Spicules. These are all warty spindles of medium size, densely tuberculate, and rather 

 short and stout. Those of the calyx walls are in two layers, and not appreciably smaller than 

 those on the stem and branches. 



Color. The colony is very light brown, almost white, the axis is dark brown and the 

 spicules colorless. 



This species tends to connect the genera Muricella and Versluysia. The spicules of the 

 ccenenchyma are in two layers, as in Versluysia, while the arrangement of the spindles on 

 the calyx walls and opercula is typical of Mttricella, to which genus it seems more closely allied. 



7. Mttricella grandis new species. (Plate V, figs. 4, 4a; Plate XIX, fig. 12). 



Stat. 80. 2°25'S., ii7°43'E. Borneo bank. 50 — 40 meters. Fine coral sand. 



Stat. 117. i°o'.5 N., 122 56' E. North Celebes. So meters. Sand and coral. 



Stat. 144. Anchorage north of Salomakië (Damar) Island. 45 meters. Coral bottom. 



Stat. 204. 4°2o'S., 122 58' E. Buton strait. 75—94 meters. Sand. 



Stat. 260. 5°36'.5S., I32°55'.2E. Kei Islands. 90 meters. Sand, coral and shells. 



Stat. 305. Solor Straits, off Kampong Menanga. 113 meters. Stony. 



Colony roughly flabellate and straggling in habit, 24.5 cm. in height and with a spread 

 of about 18 cm. The main stem is 7 mm. in diameter, and above its base it sends off a very 



