248 



M. complanata, Thomson and Henderson. " Ceylon Pearl Oyster Fisheries," 

 Alcyonaria — Report XX. Roy. Soc., p. 303, 1905. 



Branched in one plane ; branches arise at 45°, secondaries come off straight ; 

 stem and branches flattened in plane of ramification. Coenenchyma rela- 

 tively thick, not transparent, consisting of one layer or at most two layers. 

 Verruca^, truncated cones standing at right angles ; they alternate on the sides 

 of the stem and branches and are somewhat narrowed in the plane of branching. 

 The spicules are arranged in eight groups and form eight teeth around the oral 

 opening. The tentacular operculum shows an "en chevron" arrangement; 

 collaret feebly developed. Axis thin, horny, flexible, black to yellowish. The 

 spicules are densely covered with prickly warts. In the centre the warts are at 

 right angles, but towards the ends they are directed to the apex. 



{a) Coenenchyma, 1'25 mm. x 0'25 mm. to 0'94 mm. x 0'12 mm. 



{h) Calyx, 0-63 mm. x Ol mm. to 0-43 mm. x 0-12 mm. 



(c) Operculum, 0'41 mm. x 005 mm. to 0"28 mm. x 0'09. 



The colour scheme is very varied (see description). 



Localities : Ht/alonema-ground, off Japan, 345 fathoms ; west of Periya 

 Paar ; Gulf of Manaar, West Coast of Ceylon ; Andamans. 



Muricella fteMlis, Hiles. 



M. flexilis, Hiles. " Gorgonacean Corals from Funafuti," " Proc. Zool. 

 Soc," p. 49, 1899. Plate III. figs. 1 and 2. 



Vert/ slender ; branched in one plane ; branches slightly flattened in the 

 plane of ramification. Twigs terminate in a small flat expansion consisting of 

 two lateral polyps close to the apex. 



Coenenchyma very thin, the brown axis appearing through it. 



Verrucge lateral, 0"9 mm. in height and 0'8 mm. in basal diameter. 



Polyps only partially retracted. 



Spicules small, spindle-shaped, with warts not thieUii flaeed \ 1105 mm. x 

 0-09 mm. ; 0-83 mm. x 0-073 mm. ; 0-18 mm. x 0-027 mm. 



Colour — dirty white. 



Locality : Funafuti, 40-71 fathoms. 



Muricella, gracilis, Wright and Studer. 



M. (jraeilis, Wright and Studer. " ' Challenger' Report," vol. xxxi. p. 129. 



Delicate thin stem from which branches arise at moderate intervals at right 

 angles ; stem and branches slightly thickened at apex ; ccenenchyma thick. 

 Verrucas on stem and In^anches on two sides in alternate roirs ; on the thickened 

 ends of the branches spirally around the whole perijyliery. Verrucas low, scarcely 

 projecting above the coenenchyma ; basal diameter, O'S mm. ; eight teeth project 



