195 



in height and 9 cm. at the broadest jjart. It consists of short portions of two 

 main branches 3 "5 cm. apart. One of these is bent and is 4 cm. long ; the other 

 measures 1'5 cm. in length. The latter gives off a branch almost perpendicu- 

 larly which diverges so as to meet a corresponding branch from the other main 

 part and fuses with it. In one place three branches fuse together at a common 

 point forming a six-rayed star with three free ends. The twigs arise mostly 

 at a large angle. The thickest branch is flattened perpendicular to the plane of 

 ramification, being elliptical in section, the major and minor axes measuring 4 

 mm. and 2o mm. respectively. 



The eoenenchyma is thin, especially on the larger branches, so that the axis 

 appears through it. It is very rough, being composed of warty spindles arranged 

 in all directions. These are sometimes grouped together to form ridges which 

 often wintl about and interlace. 



The disposition of the verructe is very characteristic. On the larger branches 

 they are irregularly arranged all over the eoenenchyma, but at the origin of the 

 l)ranchlets there is a space devoid of polyps, and a similar part often extends 

 for 4 mm. on the twig itself. Beyond this, clusters of polyps disposed all round 

 and naked spaces of about equal length occur alternately. A bare space also 

 occurs at the points of fusion of the brandies. Sometimes a linear bare tract 

 can be discerned among the clusters ; this always occurs at the end of the 

 major axis of the cross section, but not invariably, on one side of the exjjanded 

 colony. The polyps are very prominent, and are 075 mm. in height and 1-25 

 mm. in diameter. The operculum is formed from the top of the verruca 

 and consists of eight triangles which meet and close over the retracted antlio- 

 codia. On the aboral surface of the tentacles a few small spicules occur. 



The axis is horny, black in colour in the older branches, but fading to pale 

 brown in the twigs. It is very compact and has a small whitish core. It is 

 flattened in the lower portions, but in the twigs it retains its cylindrical form. 



The colour is creamy-white, but the black axis shines through in the older 

 parts. 



The spicules are spindles covered with tuberculated or branching warts. 

 They are straight, slightly curved or twisted, and have the following range of 

 measurements, length by breadth in millimetres : — 



0-7 X 0-3; 0-6 X 0-1; 0-6x005; 0-5 x 0-15; 0-5x0-l; 0-25 x 002; 0-2x0015. 



Locality : Andamans. 



Anthogorgia racemosa, n. sp. Plate II. figs. 2 and 3 ; Plate VIII. fig. 14. 



To this species we refer a number of slightly damaged specimens. The 

 largest of these is 110 mm. in height and 80 mm. in breadth. The branching is 

 confined to one plane ; the branches arise very indefinitely and are markedly 



