814 SYDNEY J. HICKSON. 



Acamptogorgia horrida, n. sp. (figs. 3 and 4). 



Localities. S. Nilandu, 25 fathoms. Suvadiva. Lagoon, coarse sand and rubble, 39 fathoms. 



There were two fairly complete colonies attached to stones and five fragments from 

 Suvadiva. Judging from the specimens it may be inferred that the colonies are about 100 mm. 

 in height, and they consist of about nine or ten branches, which in some cases branch again, 

 given off from a short main stem. In some places the branching is apparently dichotomous, 

 but it is not invariably so. The branches meet the main stem at an angle which is nearly 

 a right angle. The branches are not given off in one plane. The main stem and the basal 

 parts of some of the branches are in the specimens bare, zooids and coenenchym alone occurring 

 on the younger parts. 



The coenenchym is thin, the terminal branches are 0'7 mm. in diameter. 



The calices are not very prominent, but each is surrounded by a crown of spines as 

 figured by Miss Hiles (10) in A. spinosa. These spines project Ol mm. The diameter of the 

 calyx as measured from spine to spine is 0'3 mm. 



The axis is black or brown, and none of the pieces I have examined contain lime ; the core 

 of the axis however is divided into a series of chambers by vertical partitions as described by 

 Hiles for Acamptogorgia spinosa. 



The surface of the calices and coenenchym bristles with the smooth spines of the remark- 

 able spicules so characteristic of the genus. Each of these consists of a tripod base, the limbs 

 of which are about 0"15 mm. in length and covered with numerous rough tubercles, and a single 

 shaqD smooth spine 0'2 mm. long which projects freely at the surface. The base varies according 

 to the jJosition. On the coenenchym there are usually three limbs to each spicule, on the 

 calices two, but many intermediate forms are found in which one of the three limbs is very 

 small. Four limbs are sometimes found. The limbs too are sometimes foliaceous and may 

 interlock with one another or with the limbs of neighbouring spicules. 



In addition to these spicules there are some large slightly bent tuberculated spindles 

 at the surface of the coenenchym which are about 0'6 mm. long x '1 mm. broad. 



The species seems to be most closely related to Acamptogorgia spinosa (Hiles) from Funafuti, 

 but differs from it in being more robust in habit, less finely branched, much more spiny in 

 appearance, and in the presence of the large spindles of the coenenchym. 



Elasmogorgia fleaoilis, n. sp. (figs. 5, 6 and 7). 



Locality. Suvadiva, 20 fathoms. In a passage towards the lagoon. And 37 fathoms. 

 Hard sand near a passage. 



Some very delicate thread-like forms must be provisionally referred to the genus Elasmo- 

 gorgia. Studer (26), who established this genus, considered that it might be the same as 

 Gray's (5) Filigella, but owing to the loss of the type specimen and the inadequate description 

 given by Gray, he very properly proposed a new name for it. I have compared the specimens 

 obtained by Mr Gardiner with the description and figure given by Gray, and think that it 

 is highly probable that they belong to his genus. For the reasons given by Studer, however, 

 I refer it to the genus Elasmogorgia. 



