MUSEUM OF COMPAEATIVE ZOOLOGY. 23 



or obtuse fusiform spicula, often twice as long as the preceding, and equalling 

 or exceeding them in breadth, and with the surface minutely spinulated. 

 Some of these measui'ed .34 by .04, .33 by .045, .32 by .04, .30 by .035, 

 .25 by .03 mm. 



The coenenchyma is very thin and delicate, filled with miniite, flat, oblong, 

 obtuse spicula (Fig. 4 b, e), in form much like the first or commonest kind 

 from the calicles, described above, but rather smaller. 



The color of the calicles and coenenchyma is pure white in alcohol. 



Dasygorgia elegans Veerill, sp. nov. 



This species is closely allied to the preceding. 



Coral tall, round, symmetrical, elegantly spirally branched, with the main 

 stem bent in zigzag, and the branches arranged nearly as in D. Ayassizii, but 

 closer, shorter, and more numerously subdivided. The branchlets are shorter 

 and less flexible, those from each branch are situated nearly in the .same hori- 

 zontal plane. The base consists of several rather long, divergent and descend- 

 ing, clear white, calcareous, more or less crooked, root-like lobes, some of which 

 are forked. The axis of the main stem is light brownish yellow, and but little 

 iridescent; that of the branchlets is pale yellowish white with slight iridescence. 



The calicles are larger and stouter than in D. Agassizii, and set more nearly 

 perpendicular to the branches. They are swollen at the base and summit, 

 and terminate in eight distinct spiculose lobes. The sides are covered with 

 stout, oblong, rather irregular, blunt, finely spinulated or warted spicula, which 

 are decidedly larger, stouter, rougher, and less numerous than in D. Agassizii. 

 The thin coenenchyma is filled with smaller, oblong, finely spinulated spicula, 

 larger and rougher than those of D. Agassizii. 



Height, 160 mm.; breadth in middle, 45 mm. 



Station 283, in 237 fathoms, off" Barbados, 1878-79. 



The following sj^ecimens were dredged by the Blake, 1878-79. 



Dasygorgia spiculosa Verrill, sp. nov. 



Plate II. Fis. 5. 



Coral larger and stouter, but spirally branched, as in the two preceding 

 species. The branches are larger and longer, with fewer and less regular 

 branchlets than in D. elegans, and they do not lie in horizontal planes; they 

 diverge widely, at the successive forkings, ana in different planes; the terminal 

 ones are very slender. The main stem is rather stout and bent in zigzag at the 

 origin of the branches; it is light brownish yellow, with little iridescence. 



