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



This species approaches several others of the genus in its type of branching, but is 

 readily distinguished by the form of spine. The polyps are more prominent than those 

 of Aphanipathes cancellata, and the spines are of quite a different type. It is possible 

 that a careful study of the structure of the species at present included in this genus may 

 reveal important differences, but at present the information available appears too limited 

 to justify a further subdivision. 



Habitat— Station 177 ; August 18, 1874; lat. 16° 45' S., long. 168° 7' E.; off Api, 

 New Hebrides ; depth, 63 to 130 fathoms ; bottom, volcanic sand. 



Aphanipathes f salix (Pourt.). 



Antipathes salix, Pourtales, Bull. Mus. Cornp. Zool., 1880, p. 117, pi. iii. fig. 8. 

 Antipathes rigida, Pourtales, Ibid., p. 117, pL iii. fig. 12. 



" Irregularly branching, with long slender pinnules not disposed in any particular 

 order, like a weeping willow. The spines are equal, long triangular, somewhat hooked 

 up, and rather close set ; on the large branches they form longitudinal rows which are 

 more or less regular. Polyps very small and inconspicuous, of the sessile type " 

 (Pourtales, loc. cit.). 



Pourtales remarks that this species somewhat resembles Arachnopathes paniculata, 

 Duch. and Mich, (non Antipathes paniculata, Esper), but is more flexuose, has no coal- 

 escent branches, and the spines are not in verticils. 



Var. rigida, Pourt. 



The species which Pourtales describes under this name can scarcely be considered 

 more than a variety of Aphanipathes salix. It differs only in being stiffer, with thicker 

 pinnules and occasional coalescence (fusion ?) of the branches. The polyps are of the same 

 type, and the spines only differ in not being so closely set. 



Habitat. — Type, off Guadeloupe in 183 fathoms; var. rigida, off Barbadoes in 103 

 fathoms. 



Aphanipathes' 1 . fruticosa (Gray) (PI. XL fig. 7). 



Antipathes fruticosa, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1857, p. 291. 



The following is Gray's description : — 



" Coral shrub-like, very branchy, branchlets linear, elongate, with a few distant 

 elongate branches, sometimes in a single row, coming from the same side of the branchlet, 

 spinules rather far apart." 



