21 



with markedly projectiug warts or spines. Many have broad bifurcated euds. All 

 are pink or colourless. 



Those of the cortex (/>) are of a salmon-pink colour. They are shorter and 

 more closely covered with large warts, and some resemble a dumb-bell with a 

 very short handle. The following measurements of length by breadth in milli- 

 metres were taken : 



(a) 0-22x0-045; 0-2x0-04; 0-18xO-04; 0-15xO-03. 

 {h) Spiny, 0-14 X 0-02; 0-12x0-03; O-lxO-025. 

 Warty, 0-12 X 0-03; O-lxO-03; O-OGxO-025. 

 We cannot refer this form either to the precisely described and figured 

 P. nodosa of Koren and Danielssen, or to the vaguely described and doubtless 

 different P. yiodosa of Gray. 



Locality : Station 284 ; 7° 55' N., 81° 47' E. ; 506 fathoms. 



Family Sclehooorgid.k 

 Suberogorgia koUikeri, Wright and Studer, var. ceylonensis, Thomson. 

 Plate IV. figs. 11 and 12. 



This species is represented by two small yellowish-brown fragments, 5-5 cms. 

 and 5 7 cms. respectively in height, without basal attachment. 



The fragments are branched in one plane, the branches arising almost at right 

 angles to the stem and then turning upwards and running roughly parallel with it. 



The axis is almost cylindrical, with a diameter of about 3 mm. in its thickest 

 part, and 0-9 mm. at the tips of the branches. In texture it is sclerogorgic, and 

 is marked on opposite sides by two shallow winding grooves for the nutrient canals. 



On the stem the polyps arise without any regular arrangement, anywhere 

 except on the grooves ; on the branches they are arranged in two winding rows, 

 one on each lateral face. They are capable of complete retraction within the 

 verrucEe, which are low truncated cones varying from 0-9-1 '5 mm. in diameter. 

 The aboral surface of the tentacles bears spicules arranged en chevron in the lower 

 part, but parallel to the length of the tentacle near the tip. These form an eight- 

 rayed pseudo-operculum when the tentacles are withdrawn. 



The general coenenchyma is thin and densely packed with spicules. 



The spicules are spindles, which are sometimes almost oval in shape, and 

 some small quadriradiate forms. All are covered by warty protuberances. The 

 following measurements were taken of length and breadth in millimetres : 



The large warty spindles, 0-22x0-06; 0-2x0-06; 0-2x0-04; 0-14x0-08; 

 0-llxO-l. 



The small warty spindles, 0-14x0-03 ; 0-13x0-04. 



The spicules of the tentacles, 0-15xO-035 ; 0-13x0-03. 



The quadriradiate forms, O'OSx 0-0(3 ; 0-075x0-05. 



