280 Transactions of the Society. 



on a cone, and long tentacles. The polyps are arranged close to- 

 gether on one side of the stem, and are relatively large. The 

 ccenenchyma is thin, and the spines can be seen projecting through 

 it. The spines are very numerous. On the lower part of the stem 

 they are sharp and needle-like, and stand out at right angles to the 

 axis, but on the branches they are small and blunt, and lean 

 towards the axis. The second specimen is 16 cm. in length. The 

 mode of branching is the same as in the first case. The branches 

 are given off all round. The main axis is thick. The polyps are 

 situated on one side of the axis, and are crowded. They are • 5 mm. 

 in the longest diameter. The mouth is slit-like and prominent. 

 The tentacles are much contracted, and are placed in three pairs 

 round the mouth. The spines are exactly of the same type as those 

 of the first specimen. 



Locality. — Portuguese East Africa. 



The third specimen branches in one plane and is fan-like. The 

 main axis is thick and flattened out at the base, and gives off 

 alternate branches. The polyps are similar to those of the second 

 specimen, but are far apart, being separated on some parts of the 

 axis by intervals of fully 0'5 mm. The spines are of the same 

 type as in the previous specimens, but are not so long on the stem. 



Locality. — Portuguese East Africa. 



The fourth specimen is from Bentinck Island, Mergui. It is 

 similar to the last specimen in being fan-like, but the branches are 

 smaller and more delicate. It is 12 • 5 cm. high. The polyps are 

 crowded together on the branches, and the largest have a diameter 

 of • 5 mm. The ccenenchyma is very thin. The spines agree with 

 those of the other specimens, but the needle-like spines on the axis 

 are very numerous. It seems that Antipathes abies is a very 

 variable species. 



Pteropathes simpsoni sp. n. Plate V. fig. 3. 



A small colony, 10*5 cm. in length. The branching is irregular, 

 and there seems to be no main axis. The whole specimen is clothed 

 on one side with whitish polyps, which give it the appearance of 

 being covered with a mould. These polyps are unfortunately so 

 badly preserved that their structure cannot be made out, though 

 in some parts long tentacles are seen. The spines, which are large 

 and numerous, are triangular with a broad base. They are arranged 

 in very steep spirals ; seven or eight can be seen from one aspect. 

 Towards the tip of the axis the spirals become irregular. The 

 spines also form longitudinal vertical rows, the members of which 

 are about a length apart, and in some places even less. 



Locality. — Mergui Archipelago. 



