VerriU.] 328 



the ends, and often crooked. The trunk Is stout at base, and soon 

 divides into two or three main branches, and these give off irregu- 

 larly at distances of from one to two inches, branches nearly as thick, 

 which diverge at nearly right angles at first, and then turn upward 

 with a broad curve ; from the outer side of the curve, another branch 

 often arises. The axis is round and black, somewhat compressed at the 

 axils, brittle at the ends ; the coenenchyma is about a line thick, of 

 coarse texture. The verrucaB are crowded, very large, and project at 

 right angles ; they are eight-rayed at the summits, which are somewhat 

 enlarged, and .08 of an inch in diameter; their length being .1 ; their 

 exterior is covered with long fusiform, rather sharp spicula, which are 

 covered with fine granulations. Height of largest specimen eight 

 inches ; color when dry, dark yellowish brown. 

 Panama, not common. F. H. Bradley. 



Muricea hispida sp. nov. 



Corallum branching somewhat in a plane, the branches curving out- 

 ward, and then rising perpendicularly upward, new branches rising 

 successively from the outer curvature of the branches. Branches 

 slender, enlarging to the ends, with thin coenenchyma, but with large 

 and very prominent, turbinate verrucas, with prominent and sharp 

 spines projecting at their summits. Axis round, very slender, black 

 at the base, transparent and amber colored near the tij)s. The coenen- 

 chyma and verrucae consist almost entirely of spicula, which are 

 long, slender, fusiform, very sharp at the ends, which project at the 

 ends of the verrucse, and on their sides, where the spicula are imbri- 

 cated and about half their length. 



Diameter of the branches, exclusive of verrucas, .12 of an inch; 

 length of verrucae .15; height of largest sjDecimen four inches. Color 

 when dry, umber brown. 



Panama, rare. F. H. Bradley. 



Resembles the following species, but has even larger and more 

 prominent verrucae, which project at right angles, and are much more 

 spiny. 



Muricea echinata Val. 



Panama, common. F. H. Bradley. Color deep reddish brown. 

 Varies much in size. 



Muricea hebes VerriU, 1. c. p. 36. 



Panama, not very common. F. H. Bradley. Occurs also at Aca- 

 pulco. 



