31 



2. Muricclla crassa \\'rioht and Sluder. 



Muricella crassa Wright and Studer. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. 13 1. 

 Stat. 117. i°5'N., 122° 56' E. North Celebes. 80 meters. Sand and coral. 



Colony flabellate and reticulate, 18 cm. in heiijht, and with a s]iread of 13.5 cm. The 

 main stem gives off a number of lateral branches, unequally sjiaced and tending to be alternate; 

 and these branches send off numerous branchlets which are subalternate, and about 5 mm. 

 apart. Occasionally these branchlets divide, making branches of the fourth order. The main 

 stem is 4 mm. in diameter at the base, while the ultimate branchlets are but i mm. in diameter. 

 The calyces are pretty evenly distributed on all sides of the branches, being very closely 

 approximated, even contiguous in places, while they are as much as 2 mm. apart in other parts 

 of the colony. 



The individual calyces are verruciform or dome-shaped, the dome being formed, however, 

 by the high operculum. They are usually less than i mm. in height, and have a diameter of 

 1.5 mm. The calycular walls are filled with short, blunt spindles disposed in a very irregular 

 manner and at all angles, there being a tendency, however, to an en chevron arrangement 

 on the upper parts of the walls, and a vertical arrangement on the lower parts. The margin 

 is surrounded with eight not very well marked points. The polyps are retractile, the spicules 

 around the margin being closed over the retracted polyps. The operculum is composed of three 

 spindles forming an acute angled triangle, the point directed toward the centre. In addition to 

 the.se three spindles, there are a number of smaller ones on the basal part of each tentacle 

 arranged en chevron, and longitudinally arranged on the distal parts. 



Spicules. These are all very stout warty spindles of moderate size for this genus, 

 there being less difference in size between the calycular spindles and those of the coenenchyma 

 than is usual. Very rarely small forked spindles are seen. 



Color. The colony is almost white, in alcohol, except where the very dark brown axis 

 is exposed. 



General Distribution. This species was secured by the Challenger in the Arafura 

 Sea, at a depth of 49 fathoms. 



3. Muricella coinplatmta Wright and Studer. 



Muricella complanata Wright and Studer. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1SS9, p. 125. 

 Muricella couiplanala Thomson and Henderson. Ceylon Pearl Oyster Reports, Alcyonaria, 

 1905, p. 303. 



Stat. 80. 2°25'S., ii7°43'E. Borneo Bank 50 — 40 meters. Coral .sand. 



Stat. 133. Anchorage off Lirung, Salibabu Island. Up to 36 meters. Mud and sand. 



Stat. 310. 8°3o'S., ii9°7'.5E. Flores Sea. jt, meters. Sand. 



Colony flabellate 5 cm. in height and with a spread of 2.3 cm. The main stem gives 

 off four simple branches from one side, and none on the other, although there is an appearance 

 of sprouting branches. The stem and branches are somewhat flattened, their greater diameter 

 being 2.4 mm. and their less diameter being 1.7 mm. 



