REPORT ON THE ANTIPATHARIA. 95 



may be absent altogether from the older portions of the corallum, which is then smooth 

 and polished. 



This genus differs from all other known Antipathidae in possessing twelve instead 

 of ten mesenteries, as well as in several other points. Gray's name has been retained for 

 it on the presumption that Antipathes glaberrima (Esper), formed the type of his genus, 

 which, as already stated, is uncertain. The other species, included by Milne-Edwards and 

 Gray in the same genus, have no place in it as now modified. A discussion of their 

 probable position will be found in the first section of this Eeport. The name Leiopathes 

 was first suggested by Gray, but the first definition of the genus is due to Milne-Edwards 

 and Haime. 



The arrangement of Antipathes lenta, Pourt., under this genus is only provisional, 

 as I have not had an opportunity of examining the polyps. Judging from the descrip- 

 tion and figures given by Pourtales it appears more closely allied to Leiopathes 

 glaberrima (Esper), than to any other species of Antipathidse with which I am accpuainted. 



Leiopathes glaberrima (Esper), M.-Edw. (PI. IV. figs. 8, 9; PI. XII. figs. 21, 22; 

 PI. XV. figs. 3-5). 



Antipathes glaberrima, Esper, Pflanzenth, pt. ii. p. 160, pi. 9 ; Lamk., Hist. nat. anim. sans 



vert., t. ii. p. 306; Dana, Zooph., p. 585 ; Pourtales, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool, 1880, p. 118, 



fig. 2. 

 Antipathes dichotoma, Gray {nan Pallas), Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1832, p. 41. 

 1 Leiopathes glaberrima, Gray, Synop. Brit. Mus., 1842, p. 135 ; M.-Edw. and Haime, Distrib. 



method. (Monogr. d. polypiers foss. d. terr. paheoz.), Archives d. Mus. Paris, t. v., 1851, 



p. 176; Gray, Proe. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1857, p. 290. 

 Leiopathes glaberrima (Esper), M.-Edw., Coralliaires, t. i. p. 322. 

 ? Antipathes dissecta, Duch. and Mich., Mem. Acad. Torino, ser. 2, t. xsiii., p. 142. 

 Antipathes dissecta (Duch. and Mich.), Pourtales, Cat. Corals Harvard Mus., No. iv., 1871, p. 53. 



Corallum large, irregularly branched, with long crooked branches of more or less 

 elliptical section. At other times the growth is more regular, giving a dendritic form 

 not urdike a flattened ash. The main stem is 2 or 2 '5 cm. in diameter, jet black and 

 polished ; the branches gradually taper, and all have the same polished smooth appearance 

 as the stem. The ultimate branchlets are slender, laxly pinnate, pale brown in colour, 

 and covered with short distant spines (PI. XII. figs. 21, 22). Height of the corallum 

 1 m. or more. There is a fine specimen of this species in the British Museum. 



I am indebted to Dr. Dohrn, of the Naples Zoological Station, for a few terminal 

 twigs of this species, on which the polyps are well preserved. The specimens had been 

 killed in osmic acid, so that the ectoderm is black. In portions not affected by the acid 

 the colour in spirit is a dirty yellow. The mode of branching near the apex of the 

 corallum is lax and irregular, the ultimate pinnules being usually at right angles to the 

 branchlet from which they arise. One fragment 5"5 cm. long bears eight branchlets, 



