200 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



related, and belongs to the same section of the genus. A comparative 

 study of the spicula has not yet been made. 



Alcyonium multiflorum, sp. nov, 



A hirge, upright species, with a tall bare trunk, which divides near 

 the top into numerous divergent cylindrical branches, which are naked, 

 except near the ends, where they again subdivide in the same way into 

 secondary branches, which in turn divide again into a cluster of short, 

 terminal branchlets. The ultimate branchlets bear at their ends an 

 umbel-like cluster of crowded polyps, which in contraction form rounded 

 groups. The whole forms a i^anicle-like structure, not unlike a cauli- 

 flower — a resemblance noticed by the fishermen. The minute polyp- 

 cells are closely crowded at the ends of the branchlets, so as to leave no 

 naked coeuenchyma visible between them. They are apparently not 

 retractile, but the tentacles are often contracted into eight rounded, mi- 

 nute, rather rigid lobes at the summit of the polyps, which, in contrac- 

 tion, have small, short bodies. The branches, branchlets, and trunk are 

 usually sulcated in alcoholic specimens, and have a smooth, scarcely 

 granular surface. The surface is smoother than in A. earnenm, though 

 the structure of the ccenenchyma and interior is firmer and less flexible. 

 Height, about 4 to 5 inches ; breadth, about 3 inches, in contraction. 

 Some specimens are considerably larger. Color, in alcohol, yellowish 

 white; in recently preserved specimens, bright red, stained with purple; 



Eeceived from Daniel McKinnon and crew, of the schooner "Mary F. 

 Chisholm," i^. lat. 44° 06', W. long. 52° 54', 220 fathoms. Taken also 

 by Captain John E. Wilson and crew, of the schooner " Polar Wave," in 

 200 fathoms, N. lat. 44° 30', W. long. 57° 08', and in various other 

 localities, in deep water, by the fishermen. Called sea-cauliflower by 

 the fishermen. Closely related to A. caniemn, but diflers in having 

 smaller polyps, which are so crowded as to show no bare coeuenchyma 

 between their bases. The naked branches are longer and more panicled. 

 It resembles in general appearance the Gorgonia florida Midler (Zool. 

 Danica) ; but the latter appears not to be known to modern Scandi- 

 navian -wTiters, and its afiinities are doubtful. 



Alcyonium Liitkeni, sp. nov. 



Alcyonium glomeratum Liitken, MSS. (won Johnston). 



Several specimens of a species agreeing perfectly with Greenland 

 specimens sent to me several years ago, under the above MSS. name, 

 by Dr. Chr. Liitken, were dredged in 52 fathoms, off Halifax, K. S., by 

 the U. S. Fish Commission, in 1877. 



It may be distinguished by having the integument, especially of the 

 polyp-bodies and bases of the tentacles, filled and covered with spicula, 

 so as to render them decidedly rigid and incapable of complete con- 

 traction. The main stem is upright, without polyps, giving oft' cylin- 

 drical branches along the sides ; from these small lateral branchlets arise 

 all along their sides as well as at their ends, each bearing a cluster of 



