REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 65 



Stachyodes regularis, n. sp. (PI. XI. figs. 2, 2a ; PI. XX. fig. 3). 



Several fragments of this species were dredged near the Kermadec Islands. Two of 

 these are branched. The axis on the largest of the specimens is 140 mm. in height, and 

 about 1"5 mm. in diameter, horny, but with calcareous particles, highly iridescent 

 and grooved. The branches are perfectly dichotomous. The coenenchyma on the axis 

 is thin, but covered with thickly set narrow scale-like spicules, the larger of which are 

 1"5 mm. long by 0"5 mm. wide ; these form a well-marked layer and are intercalated one 

 with the other. The basal portion is unknown. 



The pol}^8 are in close verticils of fours or fives, looking downwards, and u4th an 

 interval between the polyp whorls of about 1 to 0"5 mm. The full-grown polj'ps 

 measure about 3 mm. in height by 2 mm. in width. The body, or rather the dorsal or 

 outer surface of the body of the pol}"p is enveloped by three series of scale-hke spicules, 

 which, when the polj'p is retracted, just overlap one another. The first series consists of 

 two broad, somewhat quadrilateral, hollowed-out scales, 1"5 mm. by 1 mm., jagged at 

 their edges, and with a prominent projection ; the sides of these scales slightly overlap 

 each other, the projecting portion extends along and around either side of the polyp. 

 The second series normally consist of two, but sometimes of three scales, smaller than 

 those of the first series, somewhat quadrilateral, but not flat, about 1 mm. by 1 mm., the 

 edges slightly overlapping, sometimes only touching. The third series of scales also 

 consists of two, each of these is broader than the spicules of the second series, being 

 2 mm. in width. The series of opercular scales is eight in number, and consists of 

 triangular-shaped scales, each deeply keeled, and projecting beyond the last series of the 

 body scales. The scales of the inner or ventral surface are sometimes either feebly or 

 non-calcareous, and the outer of the opercular scales, these just below the third series of 

 body scales, are the largest. 



A few irregular-shaped scale-like spicules are to be found on the ventral or inner 

 surface of the body of the polj'p. 



The colony increases by apical growth of the whorl of polyps, and also by budding ; 

 these buds arise in whorls below and between the whorls of adult polyps, and by their 

 intercalary growth, the main axis increases in thickness. 



Spicules of the ccenenchyma irregular in shape, scale-like or even flattened spindles, 

 measuring 1-50-0-50; 1-0-25; 1-45-0-45; 0-90-0-12 mm. 



The opercular scales measure l-0'50 mm.; at base l-0"45 mm. 



Habitat. — Station 171, oflP the Kermadec Islands ; depth, 603 fathoms ; bottom, hard 

 ground. 



This interesting form shows near afiinities to the genus Calyptrophora, but 

 diff"ers in the spicules of the body of the pol}^. To this genus will possibly belong 



