REPORT 01^ THE ALCYONARIA. 3S. 



diameter, and consists of three calcareous internodes with two very small horny nodes. 

 The calcareous internodes have a somewhat glassy appearance, are bent or curved on 

 themselves, and slightly quadrangular in section, solid, smooth ; towards the apparent 

 summit the section is circular. The coenenchyma is thin, and densely covered with 

 oblong warty spicules, which become larger at the base of the polyp. The polyps are 

 large, projecting at right angles from the axis, thick, measuring when dry 5 mm. in height 

 and 2*5 mm. in diameter. The non-retractile tentacles are folded over on each other 

 in a somewhat irregular manner ; large, club-shaped, spinulate spicules cover the body 

 of the polyp, while small, oblong spicules densely cover the outer portions of the 

 tentacles. 



The spicules measure 2-0-0-5 ; 1-2-0-16; 0-9-0-2 ; 0-2-0-04 ; 0-2-0-03 ; 0-03- 

 0"12 mm. The small ones are found in the tentacles. 



The form of the spicules seems to necessitate the formation of a new genus for this 

 deep-sea fonn, which with its solid axis approaches to the unbranched forms of the genus 

 Acanella. 



Habitat. — Station 241, between Yokohama and the Sandwich Islands; depth, 2300 

 fathoms ; bottom, red clay. 



Subfamily 2. Mopsein^e. 



The ramified colony bears polyps, which project above the coenenchyma and are cup- 

 or club-shaped or cylindrical. The tentacles are not retractile, but when in a state of 

 repose fold themselves together over the mouth-opening. The axis consists of alternating 

 horny and calcareous joints (nodes and internodes) ; the branches arise mostly from the 

 calcareous joints, but sometimes on their upper edge, so that their horny base comes 

 into contact with the horny joint of the stem. The spicules thickly fill the coenenchyma, 

 the polyp bodies and the tentacles of the latter. These are generally longish scales, with 

 sharply indented and toothed edges. The scales are placed in contact through their 

 dentated edges, which interlock on opposite sides. In the polyps they are placed trans- 

 versely and are bent so as to correspond to the contour of the polyp wall ; their edges 

 do not overlap one another on opposite sides. In the tentacles they form as a rule three 

 longitudinal rows. 



The subfamily, of which Mojysea, Lamouroux, may be regarded as the t}^ical genus, 

 includes three genera, of which the first, Primnoisis, shows afiinities to Dasygorgia. 



1. Primnoisis, n. gen. — Colony ramified in several planes, polyps large, arising 



at wdde intervals. Spicules of the calyx large. 



2. Mopsea, Lamx. — Colony ramified in one plane, polyps small, club-shaped, 



standing in close spirals. Spicules of the calyx small. 



(ZOOL. CHALL. EXP.— PART LXIV. 1887.) SsS .5 



