A. K. Verrill — Bermudian and West Indian Reef Corals. 143 



In some instances the coral has been penetrated by the double 

 siphon-tubes of Gastrochcena, which may rise one to two inches 

 above the upper surface. In such cases these tubes become covered 

 to the tips with an encrusting growth of the coral, as is usual with 

 corals of this and other groups, thus forming conical or chimney- 

 like structures. These are the only instances in which I have seen 

 this species assume, even in a small part, an encrusting mode of 

 growth, but this does not affect the general form of the frond. 



This coral does not become thick, except close to the region of the 

 pedicel. Frequently, bilobed specimens occur, with two primary or 

 large calicles around which the concentric circles of calicles have 

 been formed (see pi. xxvi, fig. \c). Large specimens at Bermuda are 

 sometimes a foot across, but these are usually deformed, owing to 

 injuries. Perfectly regular specimens are seldom more than half 

 that size (150 mra ). 



Sometimes two or more specimens, coming in contact when young, 

 graft themselves together by their edges, which are always very 

 thin and fragile. 



The calicles are always small, generally with their edges somewhat 

 elevated. The} r are always plainly stellate. The septa and costae 

 are thin, nearly even, and finely serrulate. The collines vary con- 

 siderably in height and the distance between them, but they are 

 generally long, rather regular, rounded, and not much elevated, the 

 calicles being mostly in long concentric series, but frequently they 

 are isolated or form short series. The color of the animal, in life, is 

 rich chocolate-brown or purplish brown. The tentacles are whitish, 

 very small and short. 



In respect to the size of the collines, this species often resembles 

 the figure of A. undata in Ellis and Sol. But that figure represents 

 a coral with less defined and smaller calicles, and having a thicker 

 frond, quite unlike the delicate fronds of this species. Of course 

 this may have been due to the fault of the artist, but the plates of 

 that work are generally pretty accurate. Hence I believe it to be a 

 distinct, much larger, and more massive species, probably inhabiting 

 deeper water.* The type is still extant. See p. 140, note. 



* It is doubtful whether many recent writers have seen specimens of the true 

 A. undata, though Pourtales said that he had seen it in Cuba. I am not sure thai 

 I have myself seen a specimen that I could refer to that species with confidence. 

 But that does not prove that such a species does not exist. I have studied large 

 numbers of undescribed West Indian Alcyonaria from moderate depths. Num- 

 erous unknown or rare corals are probably to be found in those waters. The 

 early collections often contained rare and little known species, seldom seen in 

 modern collections. Some of these were doubtless brought up on anchors or on 

 the hooks of fishermen, a prolific source for obtaining rarities in all seas. 



