54 Bulletin, Vanderbilt Marine Museum, Vol. IV 



are in approximately two rows on opposite sides of the branch, but 

 the calicles in a given row alternately space one a little forward, 

 the next a little backward, thus making a maximum use of the space 

 in expansion. Likewise the calicles on the opposite side alternate. 

 On the smaller branches the bases of the calicles of opposite rows are 

 in contact but on the larger branches they are separated. The calicles 

 are more dilated basally, a little narrowed at the summit, and closed 

 by eight convergent segments. The summit of the calicle is sur- 

 rounded by eight to twelve spicules, the tips of which form a thorn- 

 like ring around the summit. 



The spicules of the coenchyma and calicles are of three general 

 types, as shown in Plate 15. There are numerous large, spindle- 

 shaped spicules, especially on the coenchyma. These spicules are widest 

 in the median region and are tapered toward both ends and are cov- 

 ered with small, nodular protruberances. They measure: 1.9 mm. 

 long, 0.5 mm. median width; 1.7 mm. long, 0.4 mm. median width; 

 2 mm. long, 0.6 mm. median width. This type of spicule is most 

 abundant on the surface of the branches which has fewest calicles. 

 There are also many such spicules on the tips of some of the outermost 

 branches; on one or two such branches these large spicules cover 

 almost the entire surface, to the exclusion of the other types of 

 spicules. A second type of spicule is long, slender, fusiform, tapered 

 at each end and also covered with nodular protruberances, but this 

 type of spicule is uniformly smaller than the preceding type and 

 much less dilated in the middle. It measures 1.5 mm. long, 0.2 mm. 

 median width; 1.1 mm. long, 0.15 mm. wide. The third and most 

 abundant type of spicule is elongated but stout and blunt at both 

 ends; these stout spicules are also covered with nodular protruber- 

 ances. They measure: 1.2 mm. long, 0.5 mm. wide; 1 mm. long, 

 0.45 mm. wide; 0.5 mm. long, 0.2 mm. wide. The spicules of the 

 tentacles are also of three types, slender, elongated, bent, tapered 

 toward both ends, with thickly nodulated surfaces ; or thicker spicules, 

 blunted at both ends and nodulated ; and flattish oblong spicules, with 

 few granules on their surfaces. 



References: Stenogorgia casta Verrill, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 

 vol. XI, p. 30, pi. 2, figs. 1, la, b, 1883. — Bielschowsky, E., 

 Zool. Jahrb. Heft 1, p. 188, 1929, Jena. 



