28 



Chrysogorgia orientalis, Versluys. Plate VII. fig. 2. 



This spCL'ies is represented l)y two fragments, portions of a larger colony. 



The axis of the main stem or liranch is yellowish and iridescent, rigid and 

 brittle, about 1 mm. in diameter. The branching is very profuse, and the 

 arranoement is irregular. 



One polyp is present on each node, but sometimes one occurs exactly at the 

 point of divergence of two branches. The polyps are long and slender, 17 mm. in 

 height and 1 mm. in oral diameter. They are broad at the base, then narrow, and 

 again expanded. The spicules are arranged longitudinally, except around the 

 base, where they are arranged obliquely transverse to the long axis of the polyp. 



The spicules are spindles with small rough wart-like protuberances. They show- 

 marked variation in length, in the degree of roughness, and in shajje, but all may Ije 

 classed as spindles or flat sword-shaped spicules with serrated edges. Several show 

 an X-shaped mark about the middle, as if they were incipient or reduced quadriradiate 

 forms. Their measurements, length by breadth in millimetres, are as follows : 



Spindles, O'S x O"! ; 07 x O'l ; O'C x 0-12; 0-5 x 0-12; OS x 0-04; 

 0-25 X 0-05. 



Flat, sword-shaped, 0-35 x 0-05 ; 0-23 x 0-05. 



Locahty : Station 2 ; 6° 32' K, 79° 37' E. ; G75 fathoms. 



Previously recorded from East Indian Archipelago (Coram Sea and Timor Sea). 



Chrysogorgia flexilis, Wright and Studer. Plate II. fig. 3. 



This species, which is represented by several specimens, belongs to Versluys' 

 Sub-Group A 2. The colonies vary in height from 100-130 mm. They are bush- 

 like or bottle-brush-like, and have a compact appearance. The l)asal attachment 

 of one specimen is a thin, flat calcareous expansion, white in colour; in another 

 case there were two root-like stolons. 



The axis is brown wdth a greenish tinge in the lower part, and yellow with a 

 marked golden lustre in the upper part of the stem and in the branches. In 

 diameter it varies from 1-1 '5 mm. at the base. 



The branches are arranged in dextrorse 2/5 spirals. At the origin of each 

 branch the stem is pushed a little to the opposite side and thus presents a zigzag 

 appearance, which is more marked in the upper part of the stem than in the lower. 

 It seems as if the stem were spirally twisted. The length of the internodes of the 

 stem varies from To mm. in the lower part to 4 '2 mm. in the middle and upper 

 part, and the distance between two braiiches that lie directly over one another varies 

 from 12 mm. in the lower part to 18 mm. in the middle and upper part of the stem. 



The lower branches are broken oft", but their origins are easily distinguished, 

 except on a short basal portion about 7 mm. in length. Each branch is divided in 



