2 9 



is curved in the shape of a sickle and sends off a number of secondary branches which again divide 

 in an irregularly alternate manner and often fork distally, the ultimate branchlets being short, 

 rarely exceeding 1.50111. in length. The distance between secondary branches averages about 

 5 mm. There is no evident keel or groove in the median line, although it is indicated in 

 places. The calyces are lateral and alternate in position, and are usually about 1.5 mm. apart. 



The individual calyces are cylindrical in form and are projected nearly at a right angle 

 with the branch, although they tend to be distally inclined. A typical calyx measures 1.3 mm. 

 in height and 1.1 mm. in diameter. The basal end is usually somewhat broader than the 

 distal. The margin is surrounded by eight lobes which are continuous with the bases of the 

 tentacles. These lobes are not so distinct as in the next species. 



The tentacles are very thickly encrusted with a mosaic of bardike spicules, and similar 

 spicules are placed vertically in the body wall of the polyp. 



A cross section of a branch shows a relatively thin ccenenchyma and a regular series 

 of water-vascular canals which, in a large branch, is separated from the axis by a thin layer 

 of ccenenchyma. The axis is calcareous, without lamellse of horny material. 



Spicules. As in the next species, these are of two kinds, an outer layer of small 

 doublé heads and an inner layer of rnuch larger bardike forms with rounded corners and a 

 densely and finely tuberculate surface. This species differs from the next, however, in having 

 the girdles almost always obliterated in these bardike forms, although it is occasionally seen 

 in what are probably immature spicules. 



The doublé heads sometimes become doublé stars, and the bardike forms sometimes 

 intergrade with slender spindles. 



Color. The colony is a bright coral red; the polyps are white, but may originally 

 have been vellow. The axis is greenish. 



J o 



Other specimens from the type locality have verruciform calyces. This is probably due 

 to the fact that the calyces partake of the retraction of the polyps. Another specimen is very 

 large, broken, the largest fragment being 25 cm. long. 



2. Nicclla carinata new species. (Plate IX, figs. 1, \ a\ PI. XI, fig. 2). 



Stat. 117. i o'.j N. 122 56' E., 80 meters. (Type). 



Stat. 154. o°7'.2N., I30°25'.5E. 83 meters. 



Stat. 213. Saleyer Anchorage and surroundings, including Pidu Pasi Tanette, near the North 



point of Saleyer Island. Up to 36 meters. 



Stat. 257. In Duroa Strait, Kei Islands. Up to 52 meters. (Type). 



Stat. 260. 5°36'.5S., I32°55'.2E. 90 meters. 



Stat. 305. Mid Channel in Solor Straits, off Kampong Menanga. 113 meters. 



Colony very profusely branching, irregular in form, but tending to form a sub-flabellate 

 structure. The base is absent, and the main stem is branched about 7.5 cm. from its proximal 

 end. It is about 3.1 cm. in diameter, round in section and ascends in a feebly geniculate 

 manner pivingf off branches alternatelv to the rieht and left. These branches are sometimes 



