36 



and Henderson on the other. These seem surely generically distinct, and the new genus 

 Vershtysia is instituted to accommodate those species that are more closely allied to the latter. 

 The genus as thus defined would include Versluysia ceylonensis (Thomson and Henderson), 

 Vershtysia ramosa (Thomson and Henderson), and probably Gorgonia tuberculata (Esper.) 

 although it is impossible to determine this species by the original figures and descriptions. 



To the above species must be added the five new species described in the present work. 



i. Vershtysia ceylonensis (Thomson and Henderson). 



Muricella ceylonensis Thomson and Henderson. Ceylon Pearl Oyster Fisheries. Supplementary 

 Reports, N" XX, the Alcyonaria, 1905, p. 302. 



Stat. 50. Bay of Badjo, West coast of Flores. Up to 40 meters. Mud and sand. 



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



Stat. 289. 9 o'. 3 S., I26°24'.5 E. Timor Sea. 112 meters. Mud, sand and shells. 



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



Colony flabellate in form, 14.4 cm. in height and with a spread of 7.5 cm. The main 

 stem is erect and sinuous, and more sharply differentiated trom the branches than usual in 

 this family, being 2.1 mm. in diameter, while the strongest branch is but 1 mm. The branches 

 are roughly alternate in proximal parts of the colony, and regularly so in the distal parts, the 

 average distance between them being about 5 mm. The calyces seem to be alternate on some 

 parts of the colony, and tend to arrange themselves in spirals of three or four in others. 

 They are irregularly spaced, the average distance between them being about 2 mm. There 

 are no terminal polyps, the branches ending in a triangular expansion with calyces at the 

 outer angles. 



The individual calyces are usually inclined towards the distal ends of the branches. 

 They are conical in form, usually quite pointed, but often truncated and sometimes a short 

 cylinder, according to the state of expansion of the polyps. 



The basal portion of the calyx is armed with heavy spindles which are bent around 

 the calyx wall in a low ascending spiral, sometimes approaching the horizontal position. The 

 distal part of the calyx is armed with bent, but erect spindles which are smaller than those 

 on the proximal part, and their distal ends project in a series of prominent points around the 

 margin. The calyces measure about 1 mm. in height. The polyps are retractile, and the oper- 

 culum is composed of an irregular mass of spindles which are small in comparison with others 

 in this species, but very large for opercular spicules, thus differing from the next species. There 

 are two layers of spicules in the ccenenchyma. 



Spicules. These are all spindles, often curved, and sometimes attaining a length of 

 3 mm. They are disposed in two layers in the ccenenchyma of the stem and branches, and 

 are more slender, as a rule than in Versluysia ramosa. 



Color. The stem and main branches are dusky, covered with spicules which give them 

 a silvery appearance. The smaller branches and calyces are nearly white. 



General distribution. Gulf of Manaar. 



