10 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



length is 70 mm.; breadth at the base 2 mm. and towards the apex 3 mm. The horny 

 flexible axis is covered over with a thick and rough ccenenchyma, upon which for about a 

 quarter of its length the low polyps are arranged in close spirals, 



The calyces are about - 8 mm. apart, and about - 8 mm. in diameter and 0"4 mm. in 

 height. They stand at right angles to the ccenenchyma, and have a somewhat elongated 

 oval outline, with the long axis parallel to the length of the stem. The mouth is 

 truncated, with eight lobes. The oral region of the polyp is wholly retractile. 



The spicules upon the surface of the ccenenchyma are broad, warty, club-shaped or 

 thick spindle-shaped bodies, often almost flat ; those towards the apex are densely covered 

 with rough warts, which are granulated or branched. They measure in length and 

 breadth 0"276 by 0-096 mm.; 0-228 by 0-078 mm.; 0"21 by 0"12 mm.; 0-258 by 0'21 

 mm.; 0"22 by 0-108 mm. 



In the deeper layers the spicules are more spindle-shaped, occasionally thicker at one 

 end than at the other. They bear scattered warts, which project straight outwards, 

 and are terminally expanded or branched. Their dimensions are 0'24 by 0'066 mm.; 

 - 56 by 0*084 mm.; - 18 by - 042 mm. Finally, there are rod-like bodies with 

 elongated, unbranched warts, measuring 0'8 by 003 mm. 



The colour of the colony is yellowish white. 



Habitat. — Stations 233-233A; Bay of Kobe, Japan; 8 to 50 fathoms; mud, sand. 



Bebryce, Philippi. 



BeLryce, Philippi, Archiv f. Naturgesch., Jahrg. viii. p. 35, 1842. 

 ,, Kolliker, Icones histiolog., part ii. p. 137. 



This genus, established in 1842 by Philippi, and characterised particularly by 

 Kolliker, by the arrangement of the spicules, was then known by a single species 

 {Bebryce mollis, Phil.) from the Mediterranean. Of this, von Koch has furnished a 

 detailed description. 1 A coral, which was among those collected by the Challenger, 

 exhibits in a most distinct manner the characteristics of this genus. 



It was obtained in the Arafura Sea. 



Bebryce philippii, n. sp. (PI. III. figs. 3«, 3b; PI. V. fig. 7). 



The colony appears as a small stem, branched in one plane, and rising from a flat 

 expanded base. A main axis is distinguishable rising above the manifold lateral growths. 

 Throughout its entire length branches are given off, at first at right angles to the stem, 



1 Gorgonidw des Golfes von Neapel, p. 54, 1887. 



