REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 89 



One specimen has a length of 116 cm. The lower part of the stem is devoid of 

 coenenchyma and polyps, and is partly overgrown with colonies of Polyzoa and with 

 Ascidians. The coenenchyma is first met with at a height of 36 mm. The axis has at 

 the base a thickness of 2-5 mm., but soon diminishes to 1 mm. in diameter ; it is hard 

 and calcareous at the commencement, but soon becomes soft and horny, with a tendency 

 to bend itself together spirally. There are only eight to twelve polyps in a whorl, 

 whereby the colony appears much thinner and more thread-like than in the typical 

 specimens from shallow water. From the same spot came also specimens which appear 

 still slenderer, the polyps in which are placed around the stem in whorls of from eight 

 to ten, and have a very small diameter ; their more minute structure, however, agrees 

 with that of the typical specimens. 



The calyces of this species are covered with scales, which form two dorsal, two 

 lateral, and four ventral longitudinal rows. The two dorsal rows of scales, visible 

 only in the calyces bent in to the stem, come together at obtuse angles in the middle 

 line. The scales of the two rows are placed alternately, so that one scale is always 

 in contact with two half scales of the other row. The ventral spicules form only small, 

 thin scales, arranged in four irregular rows. The outer rows are covered over by the 

 edges of the lateral scales. 



The opercular scales are very short, with evenly truncarted upper edges, they do not 

 form a cone when laid together but cover the calyx flat. 



Sizes of the spicules. — Calyx scales, much broader than long, with straight upper 

 edge and toothed lower edge; height to breadth, 0-2-0-33 ; 0-18-0-3 ; 0-16-0-2 ; 

 0-2-0-31 ; 0-2-0-3 mm.; lateral scales, 0-2-0-27 ; 0-26-0-23 mm.; ventral scales, 

 004-011; O-l-O-U mm. Opercular scales; dorsal O-S-O'l mm.; lateral 0-16-0-1 ; 

 0-2-0-158 mm.; ventral 0-18-0-06 ; 0-12-0-1 mm. Scales of the coenenchyma; 

 outer layer, triangular to irregular longish polygonal, height to length, 0'31— 0'2 ; 

 0-25-0-17 ; 0-27-0 -2 ; 016-0-12; 0-2-0-018 mm.; inner layer, small, thin scales 

 occur with only a few fine prominences, 0-1-0-15 ; 0-1— 0"09 mm. 



Habitat. — Port Jackson, Australia ; depth, 30 to 35 fathoms. 



Station 163a, off Twofold Bay, Australia; depth, 150 fathoms; bottom, green 

 mud. 



This species has already been very frequently collected as an inhabitant of shallow 

 water. Gray gives the Australian Seas as a locality. Verrill obtained it from New 

 Zealand, Bluff Harbour, one specimen from 7 fathoms, Tasmania. The museum of the 

 Jardin des Plantes at Paris possesses a specimen from the Australian Sea which is 

 150 cm. long. The Godeffroy museum possessed specimens from Bass Strait. 



(ZOOL. CHALL. EXP. — PAET LXIV. — 1887.) SSS 12 



