REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 157 



The stem with coenenchyma is 1'5 mm. in diameter at its base, and preserves the same 

 diameter until the branch is given off, when it gradually tapers to a fine end. The other 

 two specimens with simple unbranched stems attain a height of 325 mm. 



The axis without the coenenchyma is very deeply grooved ; ten grooves can be very 

 easily counted on the older portion of the axis, but these diminish to two at the apex. 

 These ridges show through the coenenchyma as linear furrows. 



The polyps are arranged on the stem, the lower portion in four irregular rows ; towards 

 the apex they are alternate and arranged on either side of the stem, while for the first 

 60 mm. of the stem, counting from the basal disc, they are absent. They are retractile 

 within the well-marked but shallow verrucse ; these latter measure at their base 1 mm. 

 An occasional verruca will be found larger and more elevated than the rest, measuring 

 1'5 mm. in diameter and the same in height; these generally are to be found near the 

 summit of the axis. 



The coenenchyma is thin, with a layer of spiny spindles, with some warty clubs mixed 

 throughout. The polyp spicules are minute needle-shaped and stellate forms. 



The spicules measure— the spindles 0-18-0-06 ; 0-12-0-04; 0-08-0-04 ; 0-06-0-02; 

 0'04-0-02 mm.; the clubs 0-14-0-04 ; 0-16-0-06; 0-14-0-08 mm.; the stellate forms 

 0-12-0-06 ; 0-1-0-06 ; 0-1-0-04 mm.; the needle-shaped forms 0-04-0-02 ; 0-03-0-02 mm. 



While closely related to Scirpearella gracilis, the form of the axis and of the spicules 

 will distinguish between the two. 



The colour in spirits is white. 



Habitat. — Amboina; depth, 100 fathoms. 



Scirpearella rubra, n. sp. (PI. XXXIV. fig. 5). 



Colony (so far as can be judged by the single fragment) simple, the stem (in two 

 pieces) measures 620 mm. in length, but was evidently much longer ; at the supposed base 

 it measures 2 mm. in diameter, and at the other extremity it tapers to 0'75 mm. The 

 axis is calcareous, brittle, with two shallow grooves. 



The polyps are numerous, arranged in spirals on the stem. Towards the termination 

 of the axis the polyps are arranged in an alternate manner, on the opposite sides of the 

 stem. They are retractile wdthin moderately developed verrucae. The spirals are about 

 1'5 mm. apart, and the closed oval verrucae are about r5 mm. in their broadest 

 diameter ; they seem when partly closed to be bilabiate. 



The coenenchyma is thin, with a compact layer of spiny spindles and warty clubs. In 

 the polyps the spicules are stellate, with a few needle-shaped forms. They are of a light 

 sherry colour. The spindles measure 0-1-0-06 ; 0-08-0-04 mm.; clubs 0-12-0-06 ; 

 0-1-0-06 mm.; the stellate forms 0-1-0-06 ; 0-l-0'08 ; 0-08-0-08 mm.; the needle forms 

 0-06-0-02 mm. 



