65 



The colony chosen for description is a magnificent flabellatc and reticulate structure 

 37 cm. in height and with a spread of 40 cm. The main stem is 7 mm. in diameter near its 

 base. 1.5 cm. from the base its breaks up into three main branches and these send forth lateral 

 branchlets which form a radiating pattern extending from the base of the colony like the ribs 

 of a fan, and often reaching the periphery. These branches are strongly compressed so that 

 their least diameter is in the plane of the colony, their diameters being 5 mm. and 2 mm. 

 From these radiating ribs very numerous side branchlets arise that usually curve outward and 

 upward, their free ends being club-shaped. In many cases, however, they anastomose with 

 neighboring branchlets, forming a reticulation which is more extensive than in any other species 

 of the genus that the writer bas seen. The calyces are closely and evenly packed over the 

 whole surface of the colony. 



The individual calyces are small rounded verrucae about .5 mm. high and with a basal 

 diameter of 1.2 mm. Their walls are filled with the imbricating foliaceous expansions of spicules 

 the proximal ends of which are embedded in the walls. Superficially these expansions look like 

 imbricating dises or scales, resembling those of the genus Bebryce. The polyps are completely 

 retractile, the calyx: walls being capable of closing entirely over them. Often, however, the 

 polyps rest with the collaret immecliately above the calyx margin. The operculum is a high 

 cone, the pattern of the spicules being the same as that described in the last species. 



Spicules. These are exceedingly varied. The most characteristic ones, however, being 

 composed of the usual two parts ; a base consisting of a number of radiating, tuberculate 

 processes from the centre of which arises the distal part composed of comparatively smooth, 

 foliaceous expansions. There are also foliaceous clubs, ordinary spindles, stars, crosses, etc. 

 Indeed almost any type of spicule found in the Muriceidae might be found in a single slide 

 from this species. 



Color. The colony is a very beautiful deep crimson throughout, a fact that led the 

 older writers to call this the "blood-red coralline". The axis is dark brown and the spicules 

 scarlet. A number of large dried specimens referred to this species are rusty brown in color. 



General distribution. The type specimens were from the Indian Ocean. Thomson 

 and Henderson report it from Ceylon, Wright and Studer found specimens which they refer 

 to this species in Torres Strait. 



The specimens in the Siboga collection are much larger than any heretofore reported. 

 Some of the dried colonies being as much as 50 cm. in height. The great compression of the 

 branches is probably due largely to the size of the colonies, as smaller specimens show the 

 branches but slightly compressed. 



4. EcJiinogorgia ridleyi new species. (Plate X, figs. 4, 4a ; Plate XXI, fig. 9). 

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



The colony is incomplete, the basal portion being lacking. It is flabellate in form and 

 the branches to a limited degree. There are a number of small twigs that project outward and 



SIBOfiA-EXPEDITIK XIII /'. 9 



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