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GENUS ACAMPTOGORGIA, Wriglit and Studer. 



Acamptogorgia bebrycoides, G. von Koch. 



A large colony of a tlull l)rown colonr 120 mm. in height and 110 mm. in 

 breadth. It is branched in one plane and attached to a piece of coral. There 

 are also a few smaller fragments. The specimens are typical, being almost 

 identical with those described and figured by G. von Koch and also with those 

 which occur in the Deep-sea Collection [vide Report). The verruca? occur 

 mainly on three sides and are more crowded on the twigs than on the older 

 portions. They are nearly cylindrical and the anthocodii^i are almost completely 

 retracted throughout the whole colony. The twigs terminate with two almost 

 opposite polyps, between which there is a small conical projection. 



Locality : Oflf Malabar Coast, 36 fathoms. 



Previously recorded from the Mediterranean, G. von Koch ; Azores, 

 Hirondelle; Indian Ocean Station -24(5, 11° 14' 13 " N. and 74° 57' 1:5" K, «8- 

 148 fjithoms (" Investigator "). 



Two small specimens in the Wood-Mason Collection are also typical of 

 this species. The larger, which is of a brownish colour, is 110 nun. in height 

 and 75 mm. in breadth, while the smaller is 100 mm. high and 55 mm. broad. 

 The latter is almost white in colour. 



Acamptogorgia rubra, Thomson. 



A small young colony, 00 mm. in length and 55 nun. in maximum breadth, 

 irregularly branched in one i)lane. The mode of branching is very indefinite, 

 but there is a distinct tendency for the branches to arise almost perpendicularly. 

 The main stem is very sinuous so that the whole colony is somewhat one-sided. 

 The diameter of the main stem and branches is almost uniforady 1 mm. The 

 coenenchyma is very rugose. 



The polyps are mostly lateral in position, alternate or sub-opposite, but 

 young forms occur among the more mature verruca'. The tips of the branches 

 and twigs are occupied by two diverging almost opposite polyps. The verrucic 

 are cylindrical and have the same texture as the coenenchyma ; they are about 

 1 to 1-25 mm. in height and 1 nmi. in diameter. The anthocodite are completely 

 retractile, but when partially retracted present a conical tentacular operculum. 

 This shows a crown of two to three rows of curved spindles and eight points, 

 each composed of a pair of club-shaped spicules touching on their convex sur- 

 faces almost throughout their entire length. 



The coenenchyma is moderately thick and has a very prickly surface, due 

 to the projecting folia of the spicules. 



The axis is brownish-yellow in colour, fading to a pale yellow in the twigs. 

 It is soft and flexible. 



