34 BULLETIN OF THE 



fusiform spicula, mostly with one end turned outward and projecting from the 

 surface of the coenenchyma in the form of slender, sharp points or spinules, 

 giving the surface la very rough appearance. Calicles elongated, relatively 

 large, mostly slightly constricted toward the summit, which is considerably 

 enlarged and armed by numerous slender, very sharp, divergent spicula, which 

 form eight clusters. Sides of the calicles with eight ribs, and covered with 

 long, slender, very acute spicula, many of which have the sharp tips projecting 

 from the surface, especially toward the base and along the ribs. 



Height, 55 mm. ; breadth, about 25 mm. ; length of the larger calicles, about 

 3 mm. ; diameter, about 1 mm. 



Taken off Havana, in 270 fathoms, by the " Bache," in 1867. 



Acanthogorgia muricata Verrill, sp. nov. 



Coral moderately slender, flabellate. The stem usually divides, not far 

 from the base, into several principal branches, which diverge widely at first and 

 then ascend nearly vertically ; these give off numerous lateral branches, which 

 often diverge nearly at right angles, many of them again subdividing in a sim- 

 ilar manner. Axis yellowish brown, strongly striated. Coenenchyma thin, 

 grayish white in alcoholic specimens, and having a loose granulous appearance, 

 composed of small, rough, irregular, and rather large, very roughly warted or 

 spinulose fusiform spicula ; many of the latter are crooked and are placed at 

 all angles, but do not have projecting ends. The calicles are elongated, cylin- 

 drical, or somewhat expanded at the summit, and armed by about eight very 

 long slender, sharp, projecting, and divergent spicula, the projecting part being 

 usually more than two thirds the length of the calicle. Sides of the calicles 

 covered with rather slender, elongated, warty, fusiform spicula, many of wbich 

 are strongly curved ; and these are arranged so as to form eight longitudinal 

 ridges ; the ends of some of the spicula frequently project from the surface, 

 toward the summit. 



Height of an ordinary specimen, about 175 mm. ; breadth, about 100 mm. ; 

 length of the calicles, mostly about 3 mm. ; diameter, 1 mm. 



Taken at station 272, in 76 fathoms, off Barbados, by the Blake, in 1878-79, 

 and in several other localities in the same region. 



This species is closely related to Acanthogorgia armata, but is more slender 

 and has smaller and less prominent calicles, which are armed with longer and 

 more acute spicula. The spicula of the coenenchyma are also different in form. 

 It differs from A. aspera in not having the calicles and coenenchyma hispid 

 with slender spines. 



Paramuricea Kollikek. 



Icones Histiol., L, 1865, p. 136. (Type, P. phicomus.) 



Coral variously branched, often large. Coenenchyma usually thick, filled 

 with rough, fusiform, oblong, and irregular spicula, some of which often pro- 



