i6 Thomson, Souili Ajricmi (jorgonacea. 



interwoven needle-like limy bodies, (2) a part with amorphous 

 crystals, and (3) a very slight hbroiis part. The axis may thus 

 be regarded as mainly of lime. There are no endoderm canals. 



No polpys occur close to the base of the colony, the first 

 being about 25 mm. from it. The anthocodi?e arc retracted in 

 all cases. The size of the calyces varies considerably, but they 

 stand out very distinctly from the surrounding surface; a large 

 calyx is about i.Smm. in diameter, and 1.5 in height. The 

 calyx, which is slightly yellow as compared with the rest of 

 the coenenchyme, is 8-partite, and has a very dense layer of 

 white or yellow spicules, producing a rough granular appear- 

 ance. ■■ As regards the arrangement of polyps on the stem and 

 branches, their origin from all the lower basal shoots is con- 

 lined to three sides, the fourth side being free, though the 

 lateral polyps may be seen from this side. Apparently there 

 is not any regular arrangement of the polyps on the main 

 shoots and minor branches ; this is probably due to the fact that 

 the growth of the shoots and branches is not straight, but is 

 curved or even twisted. The calyces may be opposite or alter- 

 nate, well remote from or closely adjoining one another; 

 they usually arise from the intcrnodes, but sometimes from the 

 nodes. 



The spicules of the coenenchyme are: '^\) long, narrow, 

 curved spindles, (2) long, narrow, curved spindles, (3) clubs 

 approaching the foliaceous type, (4) clubs, (5) rod-like spicules, 

 with two pairs of blunt processes on each side, (6) spicules, 

 which with their broad processes, have an almost spherical 

 shape, (7) simple rods, with rounded ends, but no processes. 



The dimensions of these spicules is as follows: — (i) 

 curved spindles, from 0. 139 x 0.054 to 0.2y5 x 0.071; straight 

 spindles, from 0.085 x 0.032 to 0.112 x 0.047 mm.; clubs, from 

 0.095 x 0.054 to 0.234 X 0.085 mm.; rod-like spicules with pro- 

 cesses, from 0.081 X 0.040 to 0.1 1 90 X C.068 mm. ; spicules 

 almost spherical, 0.126 x o.io8mm. ; simple rods without pro- 

 cesses, on an average, 0.090 x 0.0 13 mm. 



In the polyps there are more long, narrow spindles than 

 in the coenenchyme, and fewer clubs. The spindles are larger 

 than those of the coenenchyme, namely, curved spindles, from 

 0.340 X 0.064 mm.; straight spindles, from 0.329 x 0.051mm. 



The specimen differs from Wrightella coccmea, Gray, re- 

 corded by Hickson, from South African waters, in its mode 

 of growth, in the clubs not having such leaf-like processes and 

 in the size and structure of the polyps. There is only a very 

 brief description of Wrightella clirysanthos, Gray, collected by 

 Dr. Percival Wright, from the Seychelles, but my specimen 

 agrees with the diagnosis so far as that goes, and rather than 

 create a new species, I hold it as belonging to the above. 



Locality, etc. — Pieter Faure, No. 15,010. Lion's Head, 

 S.E. j^- E., 49 miles. Depth, 210 fathoms. By shrimp trawl. 

 Bottom, green sand. Date, April 2nd, 1902. 



