REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 61 



Thouarella hilgendorji seems to connect this species witli the true forms of Thouarella, 

 of which Thouarella antarctica may be regarded as a type. So far the species of the 

 genus have only been found in deep water in the southern hemisphere. 



1. Thouarella moseleyi, n. sp. (PI. XIV. figs. 1, la; PI. XXI. fig. 2). 



The stem is upright, and from it twigs come off only in two directions. The twigs 

 are thin, flexible, and generally simple, seldom bearing lateral twigs. The stem is clothed 

 with a thin coenenchyma, which contains two layers of calcareous spicules, the outer of 

 large flat scales and the inner of triangular or polygonal spicules. The polyps are placed 

 partly on the main stem between the points of origin of the lateral twigs in an irregular 

 row, and partly on the twigs. They are large as compared with the thickness of the twig. 

 On the base of the twigs they are arranged in short spirals of up to three, further on 

 oppositely. The polyps are covered with five transverse rows and four longitudinal rows 

 of large scales ; the scales of the ventral side are slightly different from the others. The 

 operculum is in the form of a low cone. 



The whole habit of the colony reminds one very much of Stenella ; the colony does not 

 yet show the typical growth of the other species of ITiouarella. It is a form which 

 effects a transition between the former genus and the typical forms of Thouarella. The 

 little upright colony is 90 mm. high ; the axis is thin, slightly calcareous, and flexible, 

 somewhat flattened. At the base 1 mm. in diameter. The colour is yellow and the 

 surface shining. The bark contains two layers of calcareous scales, an outer one of 

 irregular, four- or five-sided calcareous scales, which overlap each other at their edges, 

 and a lower layer of small, triangular or irregularly polygonal spicules. The twigs arise 

 from the stem at different heights, alternating in two rows. This condition appears at 

 first sight very different from that of the typical Thouarella, but on more careful examina- 

 tion the arrangement of the twigs here also falls under the law given in the description of 

 the genus. Between two twigs, which are given off on two sides at different heights, one 

 polyp is placed on the stem in such a way that the two twigs are arranged in a short spiral 

 with the polyp ; at a few points a short twig is developed in place of the polyp. The 

 twigs are generally simple, 0*5 to 0'6 ram. thick, and 15 to 20 mm. long. In one place the 

 twig has developed into a branch 35 mm. long, which bears lateral twigs and polyps in 

 the same way as does the main stem. 



The polyps are club-shaped, their length reaches TS mm. They are placed on the 

 stem in the first mentioned order, as well as on the twigs. Here they show at the base 

 the typical arrangement in short spirals of three, further up two calyces always draw near 

 together, so that at the end they are placed opposite. On quite young twigs from the 

 apex of the colony one sees the young buds arising at the base of the first developed 

 polyp in the spiral. 



