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



The axis is hard, but elastic, yellowish-brown, with a shining, somewhat iridescent 

 surface. 



The polyps have a length of 2 to 2 "5 mm. They are pitcher-shaped, and in the 

 specimen examined their bases are expanded in a sac-like manner owing to the great 

 number of ova which they contain. On the stem and on the twigs there is, on an 

 average, one polyp on an internode, seldom two. The ccenenchyma on the stem and 

 branches is thin, yet only slightly transparent. 



In the polyps the spicules are thin, transversely elongated scales, the upper edges of 

 which cover the base of the next following. Their edges are undulating to lobate, the 

 upper edge in particular being provided with a projecting convex lobe. One lateral 

 edge usually appears drawa out into a point, the other blunted. The lower edge 

 is notched. By way of sculpture the scales exhibit fine lines, which radiate from a 

 central point. 



The height to length in mm. reaches 0-25-0-1 ; 0-26-0-12; 0-33-0-12. In the 

 ccenenchyma the spicules are smaller and more simply constructed, 0'21-0'04; 

 0-22-0 -06 mm. 



The deeper layer consists of much bent, rod-shaped forms provided with ofi"-shoots 

 and processes, and smooth forms which frequently exhibit a double and quadruple 

 formation. At the base of the polyp, thin spicules, bent so as to correspond to the 

 periphery thereof, and bearing teeth and spines on the convex side, form a ring 

 around it ; they reach 0'41 mm. in length. Further up they are straight, thorny, with 

 three or four root-like processes at one end, 0'3 and 0'25 mm. long. In the ccenenchyma 

 0-12-0-05 mm.; 0-21-0-04 mm.; Oai ; 0-2-0-06 mm. 



Habitat. — Station 232, Hyalonema- ground, south of Japan ; depth, 345 fathoms; 

 bottom, green mud. 



Station 201, off the Philippines; depth, 82 and 102 fathoms; bottom, stones, gravel. 



12. Dasygorgia acanthella, n. sp. (PI. IV. fig. 6 ; PI. V. fig. 8). 



The upright stem gives oflf branches in quick succession from four sides, which arise 

 from the stem in short spirals. The branches come off from the stem nearly at right 

 angles, and are bent in different planes at the points where the twigs come oft'. Ramifica- 

 tion proceeds to the fifth order. The polyps are placed abundantly on the stem, about 

 two in each of the short internodes; on the branches one or two in an internode ; on the 

 terminal twigs often three. The stem polyps are short and flattened, in contrast to the 

 polyps on the twigs, which are obliquely directed towards the apex of the twig. 

 Imbedded in the ccenenchyma of the axis there are little conical zooids. The scales of 

 the polyps overlap one another on opposite sides, and are broad, flat and transversely 

 placed ; they are continued into the tentacles in two or three rows. The scales of the 



