REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 9 



or transversely. The deeper layer in all the species consists of very differently shaped 

 calcareous bodies. First, there are fine, transparent, roundish, oval, biscuit-shaped or 

 lobate forms, which are finely toothed at the edge. They are firmly joined together 

 by these teeth, which interlock in the contiguous plates. Frequently two or more plates 

 fuse, and form double and fourfold ones. In addition to these there are spindle-shaped, 

 warty, and variously branched spicules, always much smaller than the spicules of the 

 upper layer. 



So far as can be made out from the material at disposal, the budding of new 

 polyps takes place on the terminal twigs, between the end polyp and the base of the 

 twig. 



The buds always arise on one side. 



The sexual cells are developed in the basal portion of the polyp. Polyps with eggs 

 have the base distended like a sack, which then projects on both sides beyond the twig 

 which bears the polyp. The dioecious condition appears to predominate. In some 

 colonies all the polyps contain eggs. 



The species of the genus Dasygorgia are very numerous in deep water. Ten species 

 were collected in the three oceans, of which nine are new. Hence the number of species, 

 counting the five described by Vcrrill, at present amounts to fourteen. 



A. Spiculosae. 



1. Dasygorgia sjnculosa, Verrill (PI. IV. fig. 1; PI. V. fig. 1). 



Dasygwgia spiculosa, Verrill, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zodl., vol. xi. p. 23, pi. ii. fig. 5, 1883. 



A colony broken into several pieces agrees in general with Verrill's description, and 

 also with his fig. 5 on pi. ii. The entire fragment is 100 mm. in height; the base is 

 wanting. The main stem is 1 mm. thick at its lower end and appears to be bent in a 

 zigzag manner, forming an angle wherever branches arise ; at 

 the same time its axis is spirally twisted. The branches arise 

 from three sides of the stem at nearly right angles, at intervals 

 of from 1 to 1'5 mm. They are themselves also bent at angles 

 and give off lateral twigs almost at right angles, these again 

 develop further lateral twigs. Since the main branches them- 

 selves are again somewhat spirally twisted, the twigs lie in 

 different planes. The woodcut explains the ramification. 



The longest branches, midway up the stem, reach a length of ^'"V-^^^'^^^^riif"'^' 

 25 mm. 



The axis is of a yellowish hue, with a shining, somewhat iridescent surface. The 

 stem and branches are rigid and brittle, even to the terminal, hair-like twigs. 



(ZOOL. CHALL. EXP. — PART LXIV. — 1887.) Sss 2 



