28 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



Spicules. — In addition to the remarkable forked spicules, described by Studer, on the 

 polyp bodies and surrounding the base of the tentacles, there are long needle-shaped 

 forms and numbers of flat, irregular, biscuit-shaped spicules. 



The large defensive spicules measure 2"5-0"05 ; 2-0*083 mm. The flattened 

 irregular disc-shaped forms measure 0-83-005 ; 0-85-0-05; 0-28-0-04 ; 0-22-0-083 mm. 



Several greatly damaged specimens of this species, first described by Dr. Studer from 

 Matuku in the Fiji Islands, were found among other Alcyonaria taken ofi" Fiji. 



Habitat. — Stations 174b, c and D, ofi" Kandavu, Fiji ; depth, 255, 610, 210 fathoms ; 

 bottom, Coral mud. 



3. Ceratoisis paucispinosa, n. sp. (PI. VI. figs. 1, la; PI. Va. fig. 7). 



Axis unbranched. From 6 to 7 dm. long ; calcareous internodes 3 to 4 cm. in 

 length ; base of broad, calcareous, root-hke projections ; basal internodes sohd ; apical, 

 hollow and grooved, the whole axis very fiexible ; a somewhat dense, membranous 

 coenenchyma, free from spicules, covers the whole axis. 



Polyps large, 8 to 9 mm. in height, slender, arranged in somewhat irregular alternate 

 verticils, a little crowded to one side of the axis. No spicules on the body of the polyp 

 facing the axis, a few fusiform spicules greatly varying in size on the dorsal aspect, eight 

 large spine-like dentate spicules surrounding the tentacular base of the polyp. Tentacles 

 large, massive, very imperfectly retractile, studded with minute, irregular, dentate spicules. 



The large spine-like spicules on the polyp bodies measure 5-2 ; 5-3"5 ; 3-0"13 mm. 

 The small needle-like spicules measure 0'14-0*16 ; 0"4-0'03 mm. The irregular dentate 

 spicules of the tentacles measure 0"13-0'03 mm. smaller. 



Three nearly perfect specimens of this species were taken ofi" Japan ; it seems an 

 abundantly distinct species. 



Habitat. — Station 232, Hyalo7iema-gTOund, ofi" Japan; depth, 345 fathoms; bottom, 

 green mud. 



4. Ceratoisis nuda, n. sp. (PI. VI. figs. 2, 2a; PI. Va. fig. 8). 



Axis unbranched. Calcareous internodes 4 to 6 cm. long ; in the younger portions 

 hoUow, older portions solid. Polyps rather thickly crowded on axis, in irregular 

 verticils, short, with swollen bases. Coenenchyma of axis membranous ; puckering into 

 folds on drying ; without spicules. Base of polyps without spicules, a few small needle- 

 shaped spicules on the dorsal side of the polyps. The tentacles large, imperfectly 

 retractile, crowded with acicular spicules. 



A few broken specimens of this species were found among other Alcyonaria collected 

 on the reefs at Fiji. As no species of this genus has been found in shallow water, it is 



