REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 235 



apex. The end of the branch is occupied by one polyp, closely surrounded by a spiral of 

 three or four others. The calyces of the polyps project obliquely from the base, and are 

 freer than in the preceding species. The tentacular operculum appears conical and is 

 more or less sunk into the calyx. The polyps measure 2 to 3 mm. in height, and the 

 calyces are 2 mm. in diameter. The canal-system consists of wide canals bounded by 

 relatively thin dividing walls filled with spicules. 



In the barren portion of the stem the spicules are scattered crosswise and transversely ; 

 in the polyp-bearing portion they are longitudinally placed, and in the branches they 

 form regular longitudinal bands. 



The spicules are stout spindles, frequently straight or slightly /-shaped, thickly 

 covered with stout warts, which bear at the end little spines, length 2 to 3 mm.; here 

 are also more slender spindles, with more scattered warts ; they measure 3"0 by 0"37 ; 

 2-5 by 0-32 ; 2-0 by 0-33 ; 0-9 by 0-3 ; 0-9 by 0-13 ; 0-5 by 0-05 mm. 



The collaret consists of slightly curved spindles covered with small spines ; size, 0'67 

 by 0-05 ; 0-54 by 0'05 mm. 



In the tentacular operculum occur abundantly spined spicules, sometimes enlarged 

 at one end and diminished at the other, which is directed towards the apex, and these 

 sometimes have a recurved base. They measure 0"9 by 0"13 to 0"06 ; 07 by 0'05 ; 0'3 

 by 0-067 mm. 



The colour of one specimen is purple on the barren portion of the stem ; the remaining 

 portion, as well as the branches and calyces, are yellowish, and the tentacular portion of 

 the polyps is pale red. The spicules of the collar are purple, those of the tentacles yellow 

 and red, each spicule generally parti-coloured. A second specimen is dark flesh-red, 

 and the tentacular portion of the polyps purple. 



Habitat. — Station 232, i/^/a/onema-ground, Japan ; depth, 345 fathoms. 



Genus Sijyhonogorgia, KoUiker. 



Siphonogorgia, Kolliker, Festschr. zur Feier d. fiinfundzwanzigjahrigen Bestehens der physic- 

 medicin. Gesellsch. Wiirzburg, 1874, p. 18, Tab. i. fig. 6. 

 „ Klunzinger, Die Korallthiere des rothen Meeres, Alcyonarien, p. 48. 



The interesting genus Siphonogorgia has been thoroughly and exhaustively described 

 by Kolliker. The author found that the single species which he had examined, showed in 

 its manner of growth a close relationship to the Gorgonidse ; he regarded it as a form 

 intermediate between the Gorgonidse and Alcyonidse, and founded a new subfamily upon 

 it, that of the Siphonogorgiacese, as " Alcyonaria intermediate between the Gorgonidee 

 and Alcyonidse. Habit that of the Gorgonidse. Sarcosome hard, composed of many 

 calcareous spicules and connective tissue. Polyps discovei'able only on the ends of the 

 smallest branches, contained within slightly projecting calyces, retractile. Digestive 



