22 Thomson. Soufli African Gorgon:Jcea. 



The spicules are {li) simple curved spindles with only a 

 few processit^s, about 0.34 x 0.02 mm. in size; {b) short club-like 

 spicules, about 0.56 in length, and 0.16 mm. in diameter at the 

 expanded end, and 0.02 at the narrow end, the broad end only- 

 bearing processes ; (r) long spindles or club-like spicules pro- 

 jecting prominently at the apices of the polyps, with a long 

 handle or shaft, without processes, and an expanded head armed 

 with projections. This type of spicule is sometimes 1.14 mm. 

 in length, o.iomm. in diameter at the expanded, and 0.04 at 

 the narrow end ; {d) various shaped spicules. 



Owing to the fragmentary nature of the specimen, I have 

 not been able to give this form a specific name. 



Locality, etc. — P. F., ii,q6i. Cape Vidal, N.N.E. \ N.. 

 9^, miles. Depth, So to 100 fathoms. By dredge. Nature of 

 bottom, rocks. Date, February 27th, 1901. 



Acanthogorgia, sp. 



This specimen only consists of a small forked twig, and 

 even this is not complete as part of the coenenchyme, and some 

 of the polyps have been rubbed away, but there can be little 

 doubt that it belongs to the genus Acanthogorgia. The 

 sf)icules are similar to those of Picter Faurc, No. ii,q6i, but 

 rather smaller. It would be rather incautious to give a specific 

 name to this fragment. The specimen had also become dried 

 during transit from South Africa. 



Pieter Faure, No. 12,064. O'Neil Peak. N.W. j W., ()% 

 miles. Depth, qo fathoms. By dredge. Nature of lx)ttom, 

 broken shells. Date, February 28th, 1901. 



Muricella ramosa, Thomson and Henderson. 

 Syn. M. ceylo)icnsis, Thomson and Henderson. 



The axis is brown or black, and is covered by a fairly 

 soft coenenchyme with slightly protruding spicules, the base 

 is expanded, and of a woody texture. The branching is in one 

 plane. The polyps are thickly distributed, but they are irregu- 

 lar, as sometimes they are close together, at other parts separ- 

 ated by a wide interval. The anthocodiae are in many cases 

 extended beyond the calyces, the latter are minute. There is a 

 slight degree of anastomosis between the branches. The mode 

 of branching is very variable; as a rule the branches do not 

 arise opposite one another, but are alternate, adjoining branches 

 are very unequal in size. The colony is slightly fan-shajx^d. 

 The upper branches are flexible. 



The height of the specimens is about 14 cm., the breadth 

 locm. The large branches have almost as great a height and 

 thickness as the main stem. The lower part of the main stem 

 is cylindrical, the median very slightly flattened, and the upper 

 similar to the lower, but reduced in size. The branchlets gener- 



