B- 2 2 



rarely more than 30 cm. The autozooids on the leaves are 

 arranged in a single row while those on the rachis occur irregu- 

 larly on all sides except for a narrow median strip on one side. 

 The autozooids have very distinct calyces which are quite spinose 

 particularly along their margin. The spicules are similar to 

 those of P, grandisj but unlike that species, they also occur 

 in the tentacles of the autozooids. The color of the colonies 

 is usually deep red or purplish, becoming lighter and more orange 

 on the stalk and yellowish-white at the base. Pink and pure 

 white varieties have also been reported and colonies with longer, 

 more slender and more loosely arranged polyp leaves were des- 

 cribed by Verrill as the variety laxa. The species has been reported 

 from the northeast and northwest Atlantic. It has been found as 

 far south as Chesapeake Bay. Its depth range is 160 to 1255 fm. 



In the historical survey this species was found throughout 

 the study area between 600 to 2500 m. Exceptionally high concen- 

 trations were found between 2150 to 2300 m in the axis of Norfolk 

 Canyon. Several white individuals were seen on the wall of 

 Corsair Canyon. In the field study P. aouleata was found between 

 1700 and 1799 ra in Oceanographer Canyon and 350 to 1375 m in 

 Lydonia Canyon. This species was most common in the shallow axis 

 (400-599 m) of Lydonia Canyon. 



Note: White sea pen 



This sea pen is unidentified, but is similar in structure to 

 a very fine Pennatula. In some areas this sea pen dominated 



