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



rows, six of which may be seen from one aspect. The members of a row are about two 

 to two and a half lengths apart (PI. XII. fig. 16). 



This species appears to come near to Antipathes fceniculacea, Pallas, so far as can be 

 ascertained from the description, but I am not aware that the branches are ever con- 

 fluent. The Naples specimen appears intermediate in its mode of branching between 

 Marsigli's type and the figure of Antipathes fceniculacea given by Wilkens and Herbst. 

 The latter is also very similar to the Fcenum marinum of Eumphius, which Pallas 

 regarded as probably identical with his Antipatlies fceniculacea. The uncertainty as to 

 identification can only be cleared up by a comparison of a number of specimens. Both 

 types described by Pallas are from the Mediterranean. 



Habitat. — Mediterranean. Off Marseilles, 140 fathoms (Marsigli) ; Naples Zoological 

 Station, 110 fathoms. 



Antipathes arborea, Dana. 



Antipathes arborea, Dana, Zooph., p. 584, pi. 56, figs. 2, 2a ; Milne-Edwards, Coralliaires, p. 

 319, pi. C 2 , figs. 6a, 66; Pourtales, Bull. Mus. Comp. ZooL, vol. vi. pi. 3, fig. 21. 



Dana's description of this species is as follows : — 



" Arborescent, lax and spreading ramose, three feet high; branches, subflexuous ; axis 

 throughout hispid, and branchlets long and slender, setiform, fragile ; polyps, brownish- 

 yellow, mouth prominent ; polyps on branchlets, nearly in a single series." 



Dana figures the polyp of this species, which appears to have a rounded contour, 

 with thick elongate tentacles, the two lateral ones being larger and probably placed 

 at a lower level, as in Antipatlies dicliotoma. Dana suggests that it has much the 

 habit of Antipatlies dicliotoma, but is more spreading in its branches, a character which 

 can scarcely be considered of specific value. The trunk at the base is half an inch 

 thick, and gives off stout branches which subdivide quite irregularly. The spines have 

 been figured by Pourtales and appear to be shorter than those of Antipatlies 

 dicliotoma, and not so numerous. They are subtriangular, much compressed, and stand out 

 at right angles, but the apex is sometimes bent upwards. A spiral arrangement is not 

 marked, but the spines are arranged in subregular longitudinal rows, the members of 

 which are two and a half to four lengths apart. 



Dana's species does not appear to have been met with by subsequent investigators, 

 but, though it resembles Antipathes dicliotoma, Pallas, very closely in mode of branching, 

 the spines appear to afford sufficiently distinctive characters. The Fcenum marinum of 

 Eumphius, judging from his figure, has a close resemblance to this form. Dana notes 

 that Antipathes compressa, Esper, has the habit of this species so far as figured. 



Habitat. — Sandalwood Bay, Fiji, 10 fathoms. 



