40 BULLETIN OF THE 



spicnla or spindles (Fig. 3, 6), usually acute at one or both ends, and more 

 or less curved ; the larger of these measure about .25 by .03 mm. to .25 by 

 .04 mm. 



station. Fathoms. N. Lat. W. Long. Specimens. 



318 337 31° 48' 50" 77° 51' 60" 2 



Family BRIAREID^. 



Anthothela Veehill. 



Proc. Nat. Mus., II., 1879, p. 199. 



Coral either incrusting or irregularly branched. Branched forms with a 

 distinct spiculose axis, composed of fusiform spicula. Calicles prominent, 

 not capable of being contracted within the coenenchyma, eight-lobed at the 

 summit. 



Anthothela grandiflora (Saes) Vebeill. 



Briareum grandiflorum Saes, Fauna Litt. Norvegiae, p. 63, pi. 10, figs. 10-12. 

 Anthothela insignis Vebrill, Check List Mar. Invert. N. England, 1879, p. 15. 

 Anthothela grandiflora Veeeill, Notice of Recent Addit. to Mar. Invert, Part I., in 

 Proc. National Mus., II., 1870, p. 199. 



Plate IV. Figs. 6, 6 a. 



This species grows in various irregular shapes. It sometimes spreads over 

 and completely incrusts shells, pebbles, sponges, hydroids, and especially the 

 dead and denuded axes of gorgonioe, particularly of Ceratoisis ornata and Para- 

 gorgia arborea. At other times it grows up into more or less slender sparingly 

 and irregularly branched forms, the branches often reuniting, and several 

 inches in length. When incrusting gorgoniaj it is apt to run out beyond the 

 ends of the gorgonian branches, continuing them by branches of its own. The 

 coenenchyma is rather thin, firm, and coriaceous, composed of irregular longer 

 and shorter coarsely and roughly warted fusiform and oblong spicula. 



The axis, in the branched forms, is sufficiently digtinct, though not very dif- 

 ferent from the coenenchyma in consistency ; it is composed of strongly and 

 roughly warted fusiform spicula similar to those of the coenenchyma, but 

 mostly more slender and with fewer warts ; these are rather compactly 

 crowded together. The calicles are large and prominent, usually, in alcoholic 

 specimens, hour-glass shape, largest distally, and with a constriction near 

 the top below the bases of the tentacles ; sometimes they are verruciform; the 

 upper part is eight-lobed, and more or less eight-ribbed. The tentacles are 

 commonly incurved and contracted in the form of eight convergent lobes on 

 the top of the calicles. They are filled with numerous large, fusiform, warty 

 spicula. The calicles are filled with roughly warted spicula (Fig. 6 a, g, h), 



