﻿22. CLAVELLA. 33 



a compressed slit over the cell, excejjt in one of the small specimens, 

 in which a few of the polypes are partly exserted ; they are j)ale brown. 

 In one of the specimens the fleshy part of the base is thickened, 

 and has contracted so much that the hard axis is exserted nearly an 

 inch beyond the base. From this specimen I am led to believe that 

 the length and slcnderness of the club in the genus, when in spirit, 

 is preserved by the rigidity of the internal axis. These specimens 

 are probably the Lituaria phaUdides of Milne-Edwards (Coralliaires, 

 vol. i. p. 217), founded on the Pennatula phaUdides of Pallas (Misc. 

 Zool. t. 13. f. 5, 6, 7, 8). 



21. POLICELLA. 



Coral club-shaped, smooth, slightly longitudinally plicated, with 

 longitudinal series of close pellucid dots or glands. Stem short, 

 rather tapering, in spirits bent up at the base. rol3'pcs not retrac- 

 tile, une(iual-sized, scattered and solitary, or in groups of 3 or 4 

 equally on all sides of the club. Axis hard, stony, quadrangular. 



56. Policella australis. B.M. 



Polypes black or grey, with black mouths ; stem one-third of the 

 entire length. 



Lituaria australis, Gray, Ann. 8f Mag. Nat. Hist. 1862, x. p. 70. 

 ZTrtft. • Australia, Sharks' Bay {Bayiier). 



Three specimens were sent home by Mr. E.ayner ; they are softer 

 and less contracted than the preceding ; the pores on the surface are 

 more distinct, and are furnished with more or less dark polypes, 

 which are all expanded. The polypes in one specimen (which is in 

 the most perfect condition) are all entirely of uniform black-brown 

 colour. In one of the other specimens (also in good condition) the 

 polypes are pale brown, with a broad black lower ring at the ujiper 

 part of the tubular body, near the base of the arms. In the other 

 specimen (which is imperfect) the polypes are all pale brown, like 

 the coral. 



In all the three specimens the polypes at the lower half of the 

 club are further apart than they are at the tip ; this is especially 

 the case in the specimen which has the dark ring on the polypes, in 

 which the polypes in the lower part of the club are very far apart 

 and few in number, and appear as if placed in longitudinal lines. 



22. CLAVELLA. 



Coral clavate. Club and stem smooth ; club polished, very closely 

 and minutely punctulated, with dark sunken spots or glands not 

 placed in regular longitudinal lines ; club one-third of the entire 

 length. Polypes quite retractile. Axis none. 



57. Clavella australasia. B.M. 



Hah. Australia. 



