KEPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 213 



diameter. On individual twigs, however, the polyps are sometimes more closely packed 

 and united together up to the head, so as to recall the condition of the preceding 

 group. 



The stouter bundle of spicules, occurring in the polyp peduncle, is here very feebly 

 developed, so that the little head appears to be almost terminal. The margin of the 

 head is surmounted by eight bundles of spindles arranged en chevron and projecting like 

 teeth. The wall of the stem and branches is rather flabby ; it contains numerous 

 calcareous spindles, which are for the most part placed transversely, and are not closely 

 packed. These spindles are, as a rule, slightly /^shaped and surrounded with small, 

 sharp spines. They measure 0"83 by 0'045 mm.; 1'2 by 0'05 mm. 



In the twigs the spicules are longitudinally arranged, and in the terminal twigs they 

 lie close together so as to give the outer covering a rather firm and hard consistence. 

 Here they reach a length of 2"5 to 4 mm., with a diameter of 0'25 mm. In the polyp 

 peduncles they are arranged close together ; one bundle, situated on the dorsal aspect of 

 the same, contains from one to two stouter spindles, measuring I'Ql mm. in length and 

 0'12 mm. in thickness; and the polyp head is placed on the side of this bundle. The 

 head is surrounded at the base by a circle af smaller spicules which point towards the 

 margin, and form finally eight bands arranged en chevron. These project above the 

 margin like the points of a crown, but can also close together like a lid over the 

 mouth. 



The white spicules of the head measure 0-4 by 0-058 ; 0-3 by 0-054 ; 0-33 by 0-04 ; 

 0-32 by 0025 ; 0-45 by 0-058 mm. 



The colour of one specimen is a purplish-red, with white polyp heads. The 

 branches are rather pale red, in consequence of the sUght development of the red 

 spicules; the twigs and secondary twigs are dark red. The colour of the second specimen 

 is pale red, only individual twigs are darker ; here also the polyp-heads are white. 



Habitat. — Torres Strait; depth, 8 to 10 fathoms. 



Sjwngodes jJustuIosa, n. sp. (PL XXXVIa. figs. 3a, 3h). 



The colony consists of a cylindrical, barren trunk, attached at the base by means 

 of stolon-like outgrowths to foreign bodies such as sand and Mussel shells, and an 

 elongatedly oval or more irregularly shaped head part, covered with polyps. The entire 

 colony is upright, and in one case the lower portion of the trunk is creeping and covered 

 with stolons, and quite rigid. Everywhere stiff spicules project above the polyp heads, 

 thus giving a spiny surface to the head portion. The little polyp heads contrast well 

 with the darker twigs by reason of their white colour, they occur singly all over like 

 little pustules. 



