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



pinnulse being very short and directed forwards from the antero-lateral margin, thus 

 approaching Antipathes myriophylla, Pallas. 



From a comparison of specimens in the British Museum, I am led to think that both 

 may be varieties of the same species, and it is easy to find specimens, from different 

 portions of which one might obtain figures similar either to those of Ellis or of 

 Lamouroux. The specimens recorded by the various observers, being all from the East 

 Indies and Philippines, makes it more probable that the different forms described may be 

 varieties of one species. 



The specimen in the British Museum which Gray referred to Antipathes ulex, E. and 

 S., shows marked variations in the mode of branching in different parts of the colony. 

 The branches are spreading in one plane, and both branches and branchlets are patent, 

 glossy black, tapering, pinnate or bipinnate. In the middle portion of the colony the 

 pinnules are subalternate, reddish brown in colour and directed anteriorly, occasionally 

 simple, but usually alternately pinnate or bipinnate, and average 1'8 to 2 "5 cm. in length. 

 They are much more slender than the branchlets from which they arise. Only when 

 the pinnules become 3 "7 to 5 cm. long do their bases assume the glossy black aspect of 

 the stem and branches. In the apical portion of the colony the arrangement is some- 

 what different, leading in extreme cases to short subtriangular fronds about 3 '7 to 5 cm. 

 in length, agreeing more nearly with Lamouroux's figure. Here the branchlets taper 

 quickly, and the pinnules are subalternate and closely packed ; the basal pinnules are 

 relatively strong and bipinnate ; their secondary pinnules and the primary ones nearer 

 the tip all bear short spinous processes, arising from the antero-lateral margin, usually on 

 one side only, but occasionally on both. These are directed obliquely forwards and 

 outwards. There appear to be no fusions in any part of the colony, although pinnules 

 from adjoining branchlets frequently overlap one another. 



The spines (PL XL fig. 5) are longer, straighter, and not so strong as those of 

 [Antipathes] myriophylla, and the apex is not hooked upwards. They present a 

 similar spiral arrangement, but the members of a row are fully one length apart. 

 Pending further investigation on the subject, it thus seems advisable to regard 

 Lamarck's and Lamouroux's species as probably synonymous with that of Ellis. 



Habitat. — Batavia (Ellis) ; East Indies and Philippines, near Island of Lucon 

 (Lamarck) ; Indian Ocean (Lamouroux) ; Philippines (Gray), Brit. Mus. ; Mermaid 

 Channel, " Gazelle " Expedition (Studer). 



[Antipathes] spinosa (Carter) (PL II. fig. 12). 



Hytlradendrium spinosum, Carter, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 5, vol. v. p. 454, pi. xix. fig. 8. 



Stem erect, branched, branches subalternate, about 1 mm. apart, irregular in length, 

 and disposed around the stem, sometimes subdivided. The shorter branches are simple, 



