I.iirk straight and .it others tortuous, and give ofl branchlets which tend to an alternate 

 nd rebranch muil branchings of the 6 ,h order are sometimes attained. The front 

 and back "l the branches are devoid of calyces and often show .1 median longitudinal ridge 

 nr keel. The distance between branches varies greatly, but wil] average perhaps 8 mm. The 

 tips of the twigs bear .1 pair of nearly opposite calyces with a 1 »lunt point between them indi- 



rularly alternati 

 ndividual |uite prominent for tliis group, cylindrical in form and regu 



ite in position. rhey are directed ontward, upward and slightly forward or toward 

 \. A typical calyx measun t.6 mm. in height and 1.3 mm. in diameter, 

 iften slightly longer in the distal parts of the colony. The walls show a tendencj 

 longitudinal ridges or corrugations on the distal parts. The margin is eight- 

 i and the bases of the infolded tenl ire ver) prominent, forming a radiate mass, the 



the tentacles showine as a star-like fieure. The tentacle bases are heavily 

 spiculated, mostly with doublé heads similar to those on the calyx walls and genera! ccenen 

 chyma. They encrust the dorsal surface of the tentacles well to the distal end. The ccenen- 

 chyma is rather thin and the axis is calcareous without evident lamelle of chitinous matter. 



Spie nies. These are verv characteristic and consist mainly of two forms; 1 an outer 

 layer of minute doublé heads, densely tuberculate; 2 nd an inner and thicker layer of spicules 

 which differs from any others that 1 have seen aside from this genus. They are much larger 

 than the doublé heads, and bar-like in outline. The hars are somewhat narrowed at the ehds 

 and have their corners rounded. although the etuis an- fairly square. Their surface is verj 

 linely and densely tuberculate, so that the actual surface of the spicule is almost completely 

 hidden except for the median girdle which is usually sharply cut but sometimes obscured or 

 completely obliterated. Almost all of the spicules are one or the other of these two forms. 

 Rarely minute crosses are seen and very rarely minute regular spindles. 



Color. The colony in general is yellowish golden brown 5 the polyps very dark brown 

 or chocolate, a most unusual color, which is quite conspicuous when the polyps are dissected 

 out. None were expanded in the specimen described. 



This species is a typical Nicella according to the original definition by Gray, and 

 demonstrates the validity of the genus. 



In a specimen from Station 2^- the calyces are more crowded and proportionally shorter, 

 and grayish in color. as il' bleached. A small specimen from station 260 has the calyces much 

 more distant than in the type, and is grayish brown in color. 



Genus Kllisella G by Studer). 



Ellisella Gray. Proceedings Zoologica] Society of London, 1857, p. 2-,j. 



Ellisclla Gray. Catal 1 ithophytes British Museum, [870, p. 



Ellisella Studer. Monatsbericht der Königl. Akademie der Wissenschaft, ku Berlin, 1878, p 



Ellisella Studer. Versuch eines Systemes <lcr Alcyonaria, [887, p. 1 



Ellisella Wright and Studer. Chalienger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. i.wi. 



