4 Thomson. South Africa}? Gorgonacea. 



a polyp or polyps. The diameter of the main stem at a slight 

 distance from the base is 3 mm. ; near the apex 2 mmi The 

 polyps vary considerably in size; this is partly due to the vary- 

 ing degree of expansion and contraction. They range from 

 about 2.5 mm. in length and 1.5 mm. in diameter to 7 mm. and 

 2 mm. respectively. The calyx of any one polyp may decrease 

 in diameter to the extent of i mm. between base and apex. 

 The polyps are distinctly constricted at the bases of the ten- 

 tacles, thus the apex is clearly delineated. The tentacles are 

 in some cases fairly well extended but not fully, the pinnules 

 may be seen with a lens. The polyps are cylmdrical, rays of 

 longitudinally directed spindles are easily seen on the surface 

 of the calyx. These spicules have a glistening appearance. At 

 the base of the calyces the longitudinal areas of spicules arc 

 discontinued, and after a short intervening free space the 

 spicules of the general surface of the coenenchyme commence. 

 The spicules are disposed in eight longitudinal areas on the 

 calyx, and also on the polyp crown ; on the former, spicules 

 clearly project beyond the surface. Wy specimens agree with 

 the diagnosis of the genus AnthDthela, as given by Broch and 

 by Studer. Anthothcla grandifiora (Sars), Verrill, occurs oft 

 the coast of Norway, Newfoundland and North America, as far 

 south as Martha's Vineyard, in the upper part of the abyssal 

 zone. Anthothela argentea, Studer, was collected during the 

 dredging operations of the Steamer " /-Vlbatross," in Lat. 23°- — 

 i6'N., Long. 107° — 31'E., at a depth of 852 fathoms. Professor 

 S. J. Hickson has handed me a type specimen of Briar euni {^An- 

 thothela) grandijloritm from Trondhjem Fjord, and there is 

 an excellent recent description of this species by Broch, the 

 latter author also giving a useful list of synonyms. In regard 

 to Anthothela argentea, Studer, a detailed description is want- 

 ing. The general shape of the colony of my species dift"ers con- 

 siderably from that of Anthothela grandifiora, (Sars) Verrill. 

 A. grandifiora is much more bushy or shrublike, and has anas- 

 tomosing branches and a plumper appearance, my specimens 

 being of a more slender and tree-like build. The polyps are 

 in my form not so thickly distributed on the stem and branches. 

 The stem and branches of Anthothela grandifiora are not so 

 cylindrical. Studer writes of a chief trunk in Anthothela 

 argcntea ; Broch states that in Anthothcla grandifiora, a princi- 

 pal stem does not occur, and that the branches anastomose with 

 one another so frequently as to form a thick colony, which 

 sometimes reaches the size of a man's head. In Anthothcla 

 grandifiora several polyps frequently originate at about the 

 same level on the branches, in my specimens this is rarely the 

 case, as the polyps may be separated from one another by con- 

 siderable intervals. The polyps is as in A. grandifiora, formed 

 of a distinct calyx, and an upper part which can be invaginated 

 into the former. As in Anthothela grandifiora, the calyx seems 

 to have to some extent the power of contraction, and in those 



