66 



upward from the front of the colony. It is difficult, or impossible to distinguish the main stem 

 and branches from the others because they are of nearly uniform size. Height of colony io.S cm., 

 spread 12.5 cm. In general the origins of the branches and branchlets are alternate, the distance 

 between them averaging about 7 mm. The branch terminations are slightly enlarged and 

 occupied by a group of low calyces, none of which appears to be strictly terminal. The calyces 

 are evenly distributed over the whole surface, and are closely approximated, even contiguous. 

 The individual calyces are small, very low verrucae about .6 mm. in height and 1.2 mm. 

 in diameter. Their walls are filled with jagged upward-projecting points of the foliaceous expansions 

 of spicules, and their margins are furnished with a fringe of similar points, which give a serrated 

 appearance when viewed laterally. These points appear to be imbricated. The polyps are 

 completely retractile, the margins bending inward so as to completely conceal the polyps. Even 

 when the calyces are open the polyps are sunken much below the margins. The polyps are 

 very small, and are disc-shaped when retracted within the low calyces. The operculum is 

 composed of flattened plates over the tentacle bases, and of one or more spindles lying lengthwise 

 of the infolded tentacle. 



Spicules. While not so regular as in some of the preceding species, the dominant 

 spicule in this species is of the usual type for Echinogorgia, being composed of two usually 

 distinct parts. The basal portion is made up of a number of radiating tuberculated processes, 

 and the distal part is composed of a cluster of foliaceous expansions. Sometimes these expansions 

 form a tulip-like structure resting on the star-like basal part. While these spicules are by far 

 the most numerous, there are also comparatively large, terete, densely tuberculate spindles, 

 stars, and a few triradiate forms. 



Color. The colony is a deep dull red, the spicules a brick red. The axis is an olive 

 brown, lig-hteninsr to a distinct green on the distal branchlets. 



5. Echinogorgia flora new species. (Plate XI, figs. 2, ia\ Plate XXI, fig. 10). 

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



Colony very straggling in habit, 16.5 cm. in height. It gives off a short, slender branch 

 1.8 cm. from its base, and a large branch, which gives off two simple branchlets, 1.4 cm. above 

 the first. 2.2 cm. above this (the second branch) the remaining large branch is given off on the 

 opposite side, and this gives off two simple branchlets. The main stem is broken off above 

 the last branch. The calyces are on all sides of the branches, which are round in section, and 

 are often contiguous. Owing to the complete insertion of the calyces the branches look smooth, 

 as in Plexaurella. 



The individual calyces are entirely immersed in the ccenenchyma, their presence being 

 indicated merely by scarcely evident swellings not easily seen without magnification. Under a 

 low power of magnification, however, the calyces are indicated in profile by low, mound-like 

 swellings, and in vertical view by concentric whorls of leaf-like projections from spicules pointing 

 upward ; the appearance being much like that of a rosé seen from above. The whole surface, 

 when viewed from above, looks as if it were packed full of minute roses, the leaves being 



