74 



The individual calyces are low verrucse, or rounded low domes, seldom exceeding i mm. 

 in height and with a diameter of 1.5 mm. The margin is ornamented with a fringe of blunt 

 serrated points, and the walls are covered with rough imbricating projections of the same 

 character. The polyps are completely retractile, and in some cases the calyx walls are drawn 

 together over them so as to obliterate the aperture. 



Usually, however, the operculum and the infolded tentacles are visible from above, but 

 are sunken well below the margin. The operculum shows the two parallel spindles with a third 

 between their divaricated bases characteristic of this genus. The ccenenchyma is thick and is 

 filled with irregular radiate spicules, crosses, etc; but there are scattered here and there a 

 number of comparatively enormous spindles which appear out of place, but really belong to 

 the species. 



Spicules. These are much like those of V. intricata, there being many crosses, tripartite 

 forms, stars and doublé stars. There are others that intergrade with the Acamptogorgia type. 

 The most remarkable, however, are the large spindles referred to above. They are so apparently 

 foreign to the others that it is hard to persuade one's self that they are not accidently present. 

 They occur quite constantly and in place. 



C o 1 o r. The colony is a light pinkish brown in color. The spicules are colorless. 



6. Villogorgia timorensis new species. (Plate XIV, figs. 3, 3^; Piate XXII, fig. 3). 



Stat. 166. 2°28'.5S., 1 3 1° 3'. 3 E. near New Guinea. 11S meters. Sand. 



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



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



Colony flabellate and somewhat reticulate, growing from the calyx of a simple coral. 

 Height 8 cm. Diameter 8.5 cm. The main stem sends off two small twigs near its base, and a 

 large branch 1 2 mm. above its proximal end. 7 mm. above this branch the main stem divides 

 into two parts, one of which anastomoses with the first branch. The other gives off branches 

 mainly from its outer side, but anastomoses through branchlets with its fellow. The branches 

 are about 5 mm. apart, on the average. 



The calyces are emplanted on all sides of the stem and branches, but are very unevenly 

 spaced, being sometimes very closely approximated and at others as much as 3 mm. apart. 

 The twigs usually terminate in a pair of calyces. 



The individual calyces are distinctly tubular, usually standing at a right angle to the 

 branch. A typical one measures 1.6 mm. in height and 1.2 mm. in diameter. 



Their walls are studded with blunt points directed upward and outward. These are 

 projections from spicules with expanded, usually triradiate, bases embedded in the ccenenchyma. 

 There is a low crown of points around the calyx margin. The polyps are retractile, but the 

 operculum is very high, its spicules standing almost vertically in the preserved specimens, making 

 a tent-like whorl of even and almost parallel spindles encircling a round aperture. 



Spicules. These are mainly of two sorts. There are large, pointed, spindle-shaped 

 forms with an expanded usually triradiate base, approaching very closely to the Echinomuricea 



