86 



near its middle, and opposite this bend is a low, knob-like projection which may represent an 

 incipient branch. The calyces are densely crowded over the whole surface, the colony being 

 round in section, and small polyps in all stages of grovvth are intercalated amongst the 

 larger ones. 



The individual calyces are thin walled, oval in section, the walls being perpendicular, 

 but very low, not more than 1.5 mm. in height. Their greater diameter is 2 mm. and their 

 lesser 1.75 mm. The margin has a number of points formed of spicnles which have their 

 expanded bases embedded in the ccenenchyma, and their sides are packed with annular spicules. 

 Inside of these points the margin is very delicate, infolded, and divided into eight rounded 

 lobes which are easily mistaken for the infolded tentacles. These lobes are really portions of 

 the walls of the retracted polyps. Inside of these, and retracted below them, are the eight 

 infolded tentacles. The tentacles are almost devoid of spicules, but show a few delicate ones 

 on their upper surface. These spindles have a reddish tinge and form two thin lines converging 

 toward the point of each tentacle. 



Spicules. These are of many forms, the most characteristic being triradiate and 

 quadriradiate, with one point much longer and smoother than the others, being much like the 

 characteristic spicules of Villogorgia. These are found on the walls of the calyces. Besides these 

 are numerous irregularly forked plates, and spindles with many irregular processes and tubercles. 



The typical spindle is rarely seen, and these may be young spicules. 



The colony is pinkish brown, in alcohol, the polyps being lighter and the axis brown. 



A specimen from Station 315 is much larger than the one described above, being 28 cm. 

 hieh, and with alternate branches. 



'0**1 



2. Menella grayi new species. (Plate XV, figs. 2, 2a ■ Plate XXII, fig. 12). 

 Stat. 47. Bay of Bima, near South Fort. 55 meters. Mud with sand. 



Colony (incomplete) consisting of a slender stem with one simple branch. Height 11.5 cm. 

 Length of branch 2.7 cm. Diameter of stem 1.7 mm. The calyces are rather distant and 

 emplanted on all sides of the stem. They are very irregularly spaced, but are usually not more 

 than 1 mm. apart. 



The individual calyces are entirely included ; or they might be called obsolescent verruca\ 

 their presence being evident by but a slight swelling, when viewed laterally, their sides fading 

 insensibly into the general surface of the ccenenchyma. On this account no satisfactory measurements 

 can be given of either their height or diameter. The ccenenchyma has a pitted appearance 

 owing to the presence of a network of small triradiate and quadriradiate spicules with which 

 it is filled. The ccenenchyma is thin. The polyps are completely retractile, but the calyx wall 

 does not ordinarily close over them. Thus the tentacular surface is exposed, and is renderecl 

 conspicuous by the scarlet opercular spindles. These are long, slender, slightly bent, with their 

 proximal ends but slightly divaricated. When the polyps are fully retracted the margin is lobed, 

 the body walls being partly drawn over the infolded tentacles, as in the preceding species. 



