17 



The individual calyces are very low verrucse, scarcely elevated above the general level 

 of the ccenenchyma and about 2 mm. in diameter. The verrucse are surmounted by an eight- 

 lobed margin. Their walls are filled with spindles which appear to be closely packed without 

 definite arrangement. The polyps are completely retractile, but are often seen, in alcoholic 

 specimens, with the tentacles resting above the margin and forming an acorn-shaped mass. 



The body walls have eight longitudinal rib-like bands of parallel spindles which continue 

 over the dorsal surface of the tentacles. 



The ccenenchyma is thick, and a cross section of a branch shows that the watervascular 

 canals are not regular in arrangement. The axis is entirely horny. 



S p i c u 1 e s. Slender acute spindles predominate, often with a narrow but well defined 

 bare zone in the centre. A few clubs are seen, also short, bar-like forms quite distinct from 

 the numerous slender spindles. 



C o 1 o r. The colony is bright coral red, as are the spicules. 



General distribution. Panama, and the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua, (Verrill). The 

 Californian Coast, (Nutting). 



SIBOG A-EXPEDITIE XIII i*. 



