REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 9 



the direct continuation of the cavities of the four terminal polyps, and are separated 

 from one another by thin septa. In the thicker branches these stem canals are wide, and 

 their septa are stiffened with spicules. On their outer side is a thick spicule-bearing 

 cortex. The spicules are very large and easily distinguishable with the naked eye They 

 exhibit, even in the thick branches, longitudinal arrangement. They are thick spindles, 

 usually curved, somewhat blunt at each end, and thickly beset with stout granulated 

 warts. Their dimensions are 2"04 by 0-322 mm.; 1-19 by 0-143 mm.; 2'1 by 0-33(5 

 mm.; 2-66 by 0-364 mm.; 1'12 by 0*154 mm. 



Within the ccenenchyma the spicules have the form of long rods upon which the 

 warts give place to small spines ; between the septa these are further reduced to small 

 blunt knobs. The larger of these internal spicules are 1 - 19 by "09 8 mm.; 1"148 by 

 0-056 mm.; 0742 by 0-026 mm. 



Besides these there are small uniform bodies of an irregular club-shaped appearance, 

 somewhat flattened, and covered with sharp projecting spines. They are - 154 by 

 0-042 mm.; 0-12 by 0"0042 mm. 



The projections of the calyces consist of spindle-shaped, slightly curved or straight, 

 spicules, which, passing out obliquely from the coenenchyma, surround the calyx ; they 

 bear small processes and spines. Their dimensions are 0'49 by 0'07 mm.; - 42 by 

 0-056 mm. 



The oral region of the polyps may be entirely withdrawn within the calyx, the walls 

 of which are able to close over it. There is also a collar, and spicules, which converge 

 together, occur upon the bases of the tentacles ; the latter are thin, rod-like, slightly 

 bent, covered only with weakly-developed spines. The spicules of the collar measure 

 0-375 by 0-014 mm., those of the tentacles 0"35 by 0-028 mm., 0"224 by 0-028 mm. 



The colour of the colony is pale red. The spicules of the coenenchyma are purple and 

 white irregularly mingled, thus producing the general pale tint. The spicules of the 

 oral region of the polyp are white. 



Habitat. — Admiralty Islands. 



Order III. GORGONACEA, Verrill. 



Section II. HOLAXONIA. 



Family Mueiceid^;, Gray. 



Echinogorgia, Kolliker. 



Echinogorgia moclesta, n. sp. (PI. IV. fig. 1 ; PL V. fig. 8). 



From a flattened base, growing upon foreign bodies, there arise two small simple 

 stems, which are bluntly truncated, thickened but slightly from below upwards. Their 

 (zool. chall. exp. — part lxxxi. — 1889.) Mmmm 2 



