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



Bathypathes lyra, n. sp. (PL VI. figs. 4-6). 



A small lyrate species having usually alternate lateral branches, the lower ones being- 

 very long and curved upwards towards the apex, and in addition having a row of short 

 spinous branches on the anterior surface standing out at right angles to the stem and 

 lateral branches. 



Stem slender, straight, tapering, of a ricb red-brown colour near the base, gradually 

 becoming fulvous towards the apex. In one specimen the stem is 1L5 cm. long, and 

 has a ddation at the base by which it is attached to a small stone. The main branches 

 arc lateral and alternate, excepting near the base, where two are opposite. They are 

 simple, elongate, and filiform, placed at first almost at right angles to the stem, but 

 above, the angle becomes gradually reduced. The lowest branches, a pair, are given off 

 about 1 "3 cm. from the base ; the others arise alternately on the right and left sides, and 

 arc nearly in the same plane. Most of the main branches are ultimately incurved and 

 reach a point on a level with the tip of the stem. The lower ones are 11 "5 cm. in length, 

 the others becoming shorter towards the apex, the youngest being only 2 '4 cm. long. In 

 this specimen there are eighteen lateral branches in all, sixteen of which are alternate and 

 the two basal ones opposite. In addition to the lateral branches there is a series of short, 

 simple, setose branchlets on the anterior surface of the stem, passing out horizontally in a 

 j 'lane perpendicular to that occupied by the stem and lateral branches. These are confined 

 to that portion of the stem bearing lateral branches. In the lower portion they are about 

 6 mm. apart, becoming more closely crowded towards the middle of the stem. Their 

 average length is 6 mm. 



The zooids are regular in size and almost equidistant from base to apex of each 

 branch, 1 icing usually about 3 mm. apart. They are similar to those of Bathypathes 

 \->at\ih<, hut are smaller, ami in spirit specimens have more flattened leaf-like 

 tentacles. 



Another and smaller specimen from a different locality agrees well with that already 

 describee!, even having the first two lateral branches opposite instead of alternate, a 

 feature which otherwise niiuht have been considered accidental. In this specimen, which 

 is 6'5 cm. long, the soft parts are not preserved, and the dilated base of attachment is 

 1 in 'ken away. The anterior short spinous branchlets have the same character and 

 distribution. 



The spines arc very short and conical, with an elongate base, and show no regular 

 arrangement. Compared with those of Bathypathes alternata the spines are smaller, 

 more numerous, and are disposed with greater irregularity. Four or five longitudinal 

 rows arc visible from one aspect, the members of a row being from one to five lengths 

 apart. In places where the spines are less crowded an irregular spiral arrangement may 

 be made out. 



