112 BULLETIN OF THE 



In the only specimen obtained one of the arms is abortive and divided 

 into three very short branches; to compensate, one of the arms of the next 

 pair is divided into two from its origin. 



In 270 fathoms oil' Havana. 



Antipathcs filix Pourt. 



Main stem erect and straight, pinnate, the pinnules set off nearly at 

 right angles, rather short, alternate, covered with spines or short stiff hairs, 

 and showing a succession of slight swellings and contractions. Axis tough 

 and corneous, nearly black, dark amber color by transmitted light. About 

 3 inches high. Soft, parts not observed. 



In 2 70 fathoms off Havana. 



Every specimen obtained served as support to the tubes of an Annelid 

 {Marphysa antipatlmrn). 



Antipathes humilis Pocrt. 



Differs from the former by its mode of branching, which is dense and irreg- 

 ularly subflabellate, like a spray of heather; more expanded laterally than 

 in height, which is 3 or 4 inches, whilst the spread is 1 or 5. Every swell- 

 ing corresponds to a polyp. Polyps all on the same side of the llabellum, 

 six-armed, with very elongated calicle in the younger branches, so that the 

 tentacles appear almost like two parallel rows of three tentacles each. It 

 differs from A. Boscii in having rather thicker and more hispid branches, 

 curved somewhat downwards, as the branches of an elm. 



Abundant in 270 fathoms off Havana. 



Gorgonia exserta Ellis. 



Two specimens of this species, 3 or 4 inches high, were obtained off Ha- 

 vana in 27o fathoms. They agree very well with the figures in the differ- 

 ent authors. One of them has all the polyps retracted and the ealicles 

 clo ed, the other has them all expanded as usually represented. The whole 

 cortical subslanee is filled with spindle-shaped spicules, by which character 

 it is distinguished from Thesea guadalupensis Duch. and Mich., in which 

 the spicules are covered by a squamosa layer. 



In 270 fathoms off Havana. 



Swiftia exserta Duch. and Mien. 



I refer to this spe.cies a few specimens of a very small Gorgonian, not 

 more than one inch high, which at first sight does not appear different from 

 the preceding species. Under the microscope the cortical substance ap- 

 pears studded with rough irregular calcareous pieces, without spindle- 

 shaped spicules. The polyps are perhaps a little more verrucose than 

 those of the Gorjronia exserta. Off Havana in 270 fathoms. 



