Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Ixi. (hji6\ Nc. 1. 31 



sci)aratcd into two kinds as those described and figured by 

 Verrill. 



Locality, etc. — Pieter Faure, No. 12,164. Durnford Point, 

 N.W. by N., 1 1 miles. Depth, 45 fathoms. By dredge. Nature 

 of bottom, shells and stones. Date, February 28th,, 1901. 



Leptogorgia rigida, Verrill. 

 Plate IV., Fig. 3. 



This form consists of (i) a large, basal, encrusting part, 

 with a massive brown axis, (2) a short main stem, which divides 

 at a height of 1 8 mm. into (3) two primary branches, the lattci 

 giving rise to secendary and tertiary branches. The branching 

 is in one plane. The specimen is reddish-yellow in the upper 

 branches, but red in the main stem, and the branches immedi- 

 ately above that. The calyces differ in shade from the general 

 superficial coenenchymc, and the tentacles arc white, or pale 

 yellow. The specimen has a slightly fleshy appearance, though 

 the coencnchyme is not thick, as in such forms as (lorgonia 

 -fiannnea. 



The height of the specimen is about 8.3, the breadth 6.5 cm. 

 The basal encrusting part is 6.5 mm. in height- — resting on a 

 stone, and is 1 1 by 8 mm. in diameter. The main stem is 3 by 

 2 mm., and its axis is 1.75 by i mm. in diameter. A branch 

 about the middle of the colony is 2 by 1.2 mm. in diameter, 

 and slightly larger at the apex. 



The main stem and branches are flattened in one plane, 

 and this compression is specially well marked on the lower part, 

 but towards the apices it is not so obvious. The branches are 

 rather brittle, though fairly thick, and their apices are not 

 pointed, but broad and almost straight at the extreme end. 

 Three or four polyps generally occur near the apices of the 

 branches. There is apparently no rule as to the mode in which 

 the minor branches are disposed in regard to one another, they 

 are not systematically cither opposite or alternate. There is no 

 anastomosis in this specimen. 



The coenenchyme is about i /6th to i/ioth of a millimetre 

 in thickness on the surface of the axis, but varies slightly ''n 

 different parts, and appears to be thinner on the surface of the 

 primary stem. The surface of the coenenchyme is studded with 

 partially projecting spicules. 



The axis is horny, brown in colour throughout, and remains 

 fairly thick, even at the apices of the branches. 



The calyces are fairly prominent, but vary according to the 

 degree of contraction ; sometimes they are reduced to minute 

 elevations of the superficial coenenchyme. The aperture at 

 the apex of the calyx generally remains open, and is oval in 

 shape. These openings are generally i mm. in length, and 

 slightly less in breadth. In some cases the tentacles, which are 

 white or yellow, are still .seen projecting beyond the calyx. 



