MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 15 



ranged, and less regular in size and form than the terminal ones, but have the 

 same structure ; many of them agree closely in size with the terminal ones, 

 and may be four to six times as long as broad; others are less than half as 

 large; some stand very obliquely, but the larger ones usually diverge from the 

 branch at a large angle, and then curve upward; they are obliquely seated 

 upon the branchlets, with the bases swollen, and often larger than the branches 

 which support them. 



The cccnencliyma is thin and filled with long, slender, mostly fusiform or 

 rod-shaped, finely warted spicula, which are not very numerous. 



The spicula, both of the calicles and the coenenchyma, are mostly long, slender, 

 fusiform, often a little bent, and acute at one or both ends, minutely spinu- 

 lated, and of various sizes. The largest, from the margins of the calicles, are 

 usually smoother, more slender, and sharper at the outer or projecting end than 

 at the other, which may be subacute or blunt, with the spinules more distinct 

 and in rows (Fig. 2 b, c). Others are relatively stouter, regularly fusiform, 

 with both ends alike, and either obtuse or acute; smaller ones (Fig. 2 b, d, e) 

 of tljese forms occur, especially in the swollen basal portion. 



Some of these various forms gave the following measurements: 3.10 by .14, 

 3.00 by .12, 2.90 by .12, 2.80 by .12, 2.60 by .09, 1.90 by .08, 1.80 by .08, 

 1.36 by .08, 1.30 by .07, 1.25 by .10, 1.04 by .06 mm. 



Among the smaller forms (Fig. 2 b, /), many are slender, oblong, obtuse at 

 both ends, and sometimes narrower in the middle. Some of these measured 

 .36 by .06, .36 by .04, .23 by .03, .18 by .03 mm. Others are oblong or 

 slightly fusiform, acute at both ends. Some of these measured .86 by .06, 

 .86 by .04, .84 by .06, .80 by .06, .64 by .04 mm. The smallest (probably 

 from the tentacles) are slender, oblong, mostly of nearly uniform diameter, or 

 else a little larger at one end, obtuse or subacute, distinctly spinulated, most 

 so in the middle or toward one end. Occasionally large, compound, cross- 

 shaped spicula occur. 



Color of stem, branches, and calicles, in life, light salmon to orange; tenta- 

 cles translucent, whitish, stiffened by white spicules. In alcohol the color is 

 not much changed. When dried the color usually becomes darker orange, or 

 orange-brown. 



This is an abundant species all along our coast, from off Chesapeake Bay to 

 Newfoundland, at considerable depths. 



It was taken by the Blake, in 1880, at a number of stations along the 

 Gulf Stream Slope, from off George's Bank to the region south of Long Island, 

 in 260 to 1,242 fathoms. 



It has been dredged and trawled in great abundance by the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission, at many stations, in 219 to 640 fathoms, along the Gulf Stream Slope, 

 from oft" Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard to the region off Chesapeake Bay, 

 in 1880, 1881, and 1882. It was particularly abundant at Station 881, in 325 

 fathoms;. Station 893, in 372 fathoms; Station 938, in 317 fathoms; Station 

 947, in 312 fathoms; Station 1029, in 319 fathoms. 



It has also been brought, in considerable numbers and in many lots, from 



