108 



Family Axtiioptilid.e. 



Anthoptilum murrayi, Kolliker. 

 „ decipiens, n. sp. 



Anthoptilum murrayi, Kolliker. 



To this species we refer two incomplete specimens without autozooids ; the 

 stronger of the two is 620 mm. in length, and on an average 4 mm. iu breadth. 



The axis is sub-cylindri(;al, radially lamellar, with two lateral canals. In the 

 lower part it is more or less quadrangular. 



The stalk is short, and has a long spindle-shaped swelling at the lower end. 

 The rachis is long, more or less cylindrical in shape, marked by a liroad 

 groove on the prorachidial surface, and by a narrow groove on the opposite side. 



There are no autozooids left on the rachis, but there are hollow oblong pit- 

 like markings arranged in obli(]ue transverse rows of two or three. It is possible 

 that the adjacent edges of the autozooids may have been fused, and so formed 

 rudimentary pinnules. The siphonozooids cover the whole surface of the rachis 

 not occupied by bases of the autozooids. 



The coenenchyma on the stalk is of medium thickness, but on the rachis it 

 is very thick. 



There is no trace of spicules in the rachis, but small oval, quadrangular, or 

 incipiently quadriradiate forms (about O'Ol mm. in length) are present in the 

 lower end of the stalk. 



The specimen has a dull white colour, while that described by Kolliker was 

 pale red with brown polyps and colourless stalk. 



With reference to the absence of autozooids, it is interesting to notice that 

 Professor J. D. F. Gilchrist supplied the following note to Professor Hickson with 

 reference to Anthoptilum (jrandifiorum: "Some difficulty was experienced in 

 preventing the polyps from being washed ofl' by the motion of the preserva- 

 tive tluid owing to the roll of the vessel " {Alcyonaria of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 Part II., 1904, p. 233). 



If we are right in referring our specimen to A. murrayi, the occurrence of 

 this species in the Indian Ocean is very interesting. It was recorded by the 

 "Challenger" from Station 50, North Atlantic, south of Halifax, 48° 8' N., 63° 

 39' W. ; also 1)y Verrill from the east coast of North America {American Journal 

 of Science {Z), vol. xxviii. \). 220). On the European side it has been recorded 

 from the Bay of Gascony, 45° 57' N., 6° 21' W. ; and from the following four 

 stations south of Iceland : Station 83 ; 62° 25' N., 28° 30' W. Station 40 ; 62° N., 

 21° 36' W. Station 65 ; 61° 33' N., 19° W. ; and Station 47 ; 61° 32' N., 13° 40' W. 

 Locality : Station 104 ; 11° 12' 47" N., 74° 25' 30" E. ; 1000 fathoms. 



