REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 21 



and then in the vertical plane, at the point of departure of the twigs, and gives off the 

 lateral twigs at angles of 40° to 45° ; the branching proceeds to the development of twigs 

 of the fifth order. The length of the branches reaches 40 mm., that of the internodes 

 3 to 3 "5 mm. 



The polyps are placed only on the branches and twigs, they are wanting even on 

 the first internodes, then comes one polyp to each internode. The polyps are small, 

 with broad bases, constricted in front of the mouth -opening ; their length reaches 

 1 to 1"5 mm. The zooids are like those described in the preceding species. The body 

 is 0'12 mm. long, and the ectoderm at its apex is very thick and full of thread-cells, the 

 latter forming, in certain states of contraction, a cap-like hood which calls to mind the 

 batteries of thread-cells in the tentacles of many Hydroids, such as Coryne. The mouth- 

 opening is lateral, and has, when contracted, a three-cornered or a slit-like form. Here 

 also no oesophageal tube could be distinguished. 



The axis is elastic and flexible, in the main stem as well as in the twigs yellowish ; 

 in the thicker branches and in the stem shining, and iridescent. -The upper layer of 

 spicules consists in the polyps of flat iridescent scales, which overlap one another. 

 Under a high magnifying power one sees that the edges are finely toothed, and that fine 

 wrinkles radiate outwards from a central nucleus to the edges. The scales, which are 

 placed transversely to the long axis of the polyp, are dissimilar. Those appear greatest 

 which are placed immediately at the base of the tentacle, their upper edges project in 

 front of the base of the tentacle. Thereby an operculum is formed, such as occurs in 

 such full development in the Primnoidse. 



The scales of the calyx are usually unsymmetrical, the lower edge generally somewhat 

 indented, the edge of one side straight, truncated, the other pointed. Height to breadth 

 in mm. 0-12-0"35 ; 0"13-0'48 ; 0"25-0'41. The spicules of the coenenchyma are smaller 

 scales of oval, often biscuit-like shape, measuring 0"1-0"18; 0'll-0'67 mm. The 

 spicules of the deeper layer are oval, flat, or spindle-shaped to rod-shaped, at times 

 branched, 0"12 mm. long ; at the base of the polyp they are bent according to the 

 curvature of the periphery and are 0'23 mm. long. 



Habitat. — Station 201, off the Philippines; depth, 82 and 102 fathoms; bottom, 

 stones, gravel. 



Station 171, north of the Kermadec Islands; depth, 600 fathoms; bottom, hard 

 ground. 



o 



14. Dasygorgia japonica, n. sp. (PI. IV. fig. 8 ; PI. V. fig. 10). 



From a main stem, which is curved and many times bent, arise branches, chiefly 

 from one side. Some of these are as thick as the main stem and again give off stout 

 branches, which develop lateral twigs in one direction to the sixth order. Branches and 



