REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 145 



The main axis is about 2 dm. in height, but in the only specimen found it is evi- 

 dently broken off, and is decorticated towards the summit. It is 5 mm. in diameter at 

 its base, and gives off three branches, the lower at about 8 cm. from the base, this spreads 

 out laterally to a length of 2 '5 dtti., giving origin to a second branch about 15 cm. long. 

 The two other branches are given oflF at intervals of 15 mm. above the first; the central 

 one is 9 cm. long ; the upper one is the longest and thickest of the three, probably owing 

 to the damage done to the main axis just above its origin, it is also in parts flattened. 



The intimate structure of the axis is as in the previous species. 



The ccEnenchyma is dense and granular. 



The polyps are numerous and somewhat irregularly disposed on the main axis and 

 the branches. The polyps, when contracting, first withdraw their tentacles, and then 

 the whole body of the polyp sinks within the ccenenchyma. After the withdrawal' of the 

 polyp, the walls in contact with the ccenenchyma are drawn together, and the latter get 

 drawn over the polyp, leaving but a mere chink to indicate the polyp-cavity. 



The spicules are spindles, with two or four rows of foliated warts, or quadriradiate 

 forms ; the spicules in the polyps are slightly curved, needle-shaped forms. 



The spicules measure 0-2-0-08 ; 0-26-0-02 ; 0-2-0-06 ; 0-18-0-16 mm. 



Habitat. — Stations 233 and 233a, Kobd, Japan, May 17, 19, 1875; depths, 8 and 

 50 fathoms. 



Genus Eunicella, Verrill. 



Euni.cdla, Verrill, Amer. Journ. Sci. and Arts, voL xlviii. p. 425, 1869. 

 Verrill established this genus, taking Gorgonia verrucosa, Pall., as the type, for those 

 species included by Kolliker in his third section of the genus Gorgonia. Afterwards 

 Verrill* referred this genus to the Plexauridse, placing it near Eunicea, with which group 

 Ehrenberg indeed had united it. Verrill's diagnosis is as follows : — " Ccenenchyma thin 

 or moderately thick, composed chiefly of small warty double spindles, but having a 

 distinct external layer of very small, peculiar club-shaped spicula perpendicular to the 

 surface, which often have one or two whorls of fine spinules towards the larger end. 

 Cells scattered, either raised on prominent verrucse or perfectly flat. Longitudinal ducts 

 nearly equal, in a circle around the axis. The colour usually white." 



Eunicella papillosa (Esper), Verrill. 



Eunicella papulosa, Esper, Fortsetzung., p. 173, Tab. l. 



A small branch belonging to a colony of this common species was found in a dredging 

 taken in Simon's Bay. 



While the spicules of this genus somewhat recall those of Juncella, yet the axis is 

 horny, and quite unlike the solid calcareous axis of the Gorgonellidse. 



1 Notes on Radiata, No. 6, Trans. Cmnect. Acad., vol. iii. p. 386, footnote. 



(ZOOL. CHALL. EXP. PART LXIV. 1888.) SsS 19 



