18 BULLETIN OF THE 



often largely destitute of spicula between the calicles when rubbed; in many- 

 parts only a few scattered, small, oblong and fusiform, blunt, waited spicula 

 are found, here and there, but in other places it is covered with smaller and 

 larger oblong spicula, intermingled. Color in alcohol, yellowish brown. 



Height of the largest example, 230 mm.; length of calicles, 5 imn.; diameter, 

 1.5 to 2 mm.; diameter of axis, 1 mm. 



The following specimens were dredged by the Blake, 1878-80. 



A specimen was also dredged by Mr. Pourtales, on the " Bache," March 4, 

 1869, first haul, in 450 fathoms. 



Lepidisis Verrill, gen. nov. 



Axis with long, tubular, calcareous joints alternating with short horny ones; 

 simple or branched, the branches, when present, arising from the horny joints. 

 Base divided into long, irregular, flat lobes. Ccenenchyma thin, with an exter- 

 nal layer of small, oblong, scale-like spicula, sometimes with a few fusiform 

 spicula beneath them, especially around the calicles. 



The calicles are large and elongated; the margin is armed by about eight 

 long, spiniform, projecting spicula, alternating with the tentacles; their sides 

 are filled with large, fusiform spicula, which are more or less covered exter- 

 nally by small, oblong, scale-like ones, like those of the ccenenchyma. Tenta- 

 cles filled with numerous, small, oblong, blunt spicula. 



This genus is closely allied to Acanella, differing oidy in having the external 

 layer of small scale-like spicula, both in the ccenenchyma and on tlie calicles. 



Lepidisis caryophyllia Verrill, sp. nov. 



Plate IV. Figs. 1, 1 a, 1 b, 1 c. 



Two specimens are in the collection of 1880, both unbranched, but both are 

 broken. One (see Plate IV. fig. 1), from Station 308, has the basal processes. 

 The other, which is incomplete at both ends, is a simple stem over a foot 

 (160 mm.) long, and about 1.5 to 2 mm. in diameter. The white calcareous 

 joints, except near the base, are long (45 to 55 mm.) and hollow; the brown 

 horny joints are short (1 to 2 mm.); the ccenenchvnia is very thin, filled with 

 small, oblong, blunt, flat or scale-like spicula, with some longer fusiform ones 

 around the calicles, and a few scattered ones of the same kind. The calicles 

 are few, distant, long (6 to 8 mm.), clavate, slender at base, enlarging toward 

 the summit, which is expanded at the end (2.5 mm.), and armed usually with 

 eight long and large spine-like or fusiform spicula, which project in a circle 

 around the margin, and run back nearly the whole length of the calicles. 

 These are intermi.\ed with and surrounded by numerous smaller and more 



