MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 17 



spicula are much like those of the lower part of the calicles, but elsewhere they 

 are smaller oblong forms, blunt at both ends. The terminal calicles on the 

 outer branchlets are the largest and most prominent ; those on the sides of the 

 larger branches are shorter, oblique, and verruciform, with swollen bases. 

 The following specimens were dredged by the Blake, 1877-80. 



Acanella spiculosa Vekrill, sp. nov. 



Mode of branching unknown, except that the branches originate from the 

 horny joints. Axis in the branches very slender; calcareous joints long, solid, 

 white; horny joints very short, orange-yellow. Ccenenchyma composed of nu- 

 merous large, more or less crooked, fusiform spicula. Calicles elongated, more 

 or less cj'lindrical, usually somewhat enlarged at the summit and slightly 

 swollen at the base; summit armed with eight large, rather stout, sharp, pro- 

 jecting spicida; sides of the calicles covered with similar large, fusiform spic- 

 ula, mostly somewhat obliquely placed, and curved to correspond to the surface 

 of the calicles; those at the bases of the calicles are usually larger and very 

 crooked, intermingled with some of smaller size. 



Length of the larger calicles, from 3.5 to 4.5 mm.; diameter, 1.25 mm. 



Only a single specimen of this species has been seen, consisting of two small 

 branches, one of which gives rise to a single small, lateral branchlet. It closely 

 resembles A. eburnea, but is distinguished by the very much larger size of the 

 spicula in the basal part of the calicles, and in the ccenenchyma. 



Station 222, in 422 fathoms, off St. Lucia, Blake Expedition, 1878-79. 



Acanella simplex Verrill, sp. nov. 



Rather slender, apparently unbranched. Calcareous joints long, slender, 

 distinctly sulcated, solid (in the several joints examined); homy joints short, 

 dark brown. 



Calicles numerous, proifiinent, rather long, cylindrical or enlarged distally, 

 covered with stout, often curved, blunt or not very acute, finely warted, oblong 

 or fusiform spicula, and armed at the margin by eight similar spicula 6{ some- 

 what more elongated form, but less acute than in most other species. The 

 base is supported by similar large, often much curved spicula. Similar large, 

 fusiform spicula extend a little beyond the base of the calicles, in the thin 

 ccenenchyma, becoming smaller away from the calicles; the ccenenchyma is 



VOL. XI. — NO. 1. 2 



