i t 



U-shaped forms with a spread of Oi-O'S between the tips of the arms. 



This species is near Acnmptogorgia homda, Hickson, but differs from it in 

 the size of the polyps and in the size of the spicules. 



The branches have much entangled foreign material, e.g. two specimens of a 

 spirally coiled Solenogaster {Rhopalomenia gorgo^iojyhila f). 



Locality : Station 333 ; 6° 31' N., 79° 38' 45" E. ; 401 fathoms. 



Acis spinosa, n. sp. Plate V. fig. 1 1 . 



A small specimen, white in colour with a tinge of biowu, 86 mm. in height 

 and about 50 mm. in width. 



The branching is confined to one plane, and is very irregular. Between the 

 origins of the large branches small twigs are given off bearing a few polyps. 



The axis is horny, about 3 mm. in diameter at the lower end, slightly oval in 

 section, with its surface marked by longitudinal ridges. 



The polyps occur all round the stem and branches. In the anthocodise there 

 is a very rudimentary collaret formed of at most two rows of spicules, and at the 

 base of the tentacles two spicules are placed side by side, with their lower ends 

 resting on the collaret, thus forming a conical operculum over the infolded 

 tentacles. 



The verrucse are short, and the retracted anthocodise lie almost completely 

 hidden within them. They are formed of scale-like spicules, and a number of 

 . apical spines project from the uppermost row. 



The general coenenchyma is thin and covered by large spicules, either spindles 

 or elongated scales. 



The spicules may be divided into three groups: (1) fusiform, (2) modified 

 fusiform, and (3) squamous. 



1. The fusiform spicules are usually straight, covered with rough warts, and 

 have the following dimensions :- from 0-2-07 mm. in length, from 0-07-0 "2 

 mm. in width. 



2. The modified fusiform spicules are very large, and usually have a number 

 of monticular processes on one side. They vary in length from 0-4-2 '5 mm., and 

 in breadth from 0-2-0-65 mm. 



3. The squamous forms are very irregular in shape ; they have several 

 sharp-pointed processes growing out from one side, and are covered by rough 

 warts. The following measurements were taken of length and breadth in 

 millimetres : 



1-1x0-6; 0-7x0-6; 0-5x0-4. 

 To the types of spicules already noticed there must be added : 

 1. Club-shaped spicules bent at one end, with the long handle nearly or quite 

 smooth, 0-5-0-55 in length by 0-1-0-12 in lireadth ; and 



