35 

 large branch which forms the main part of the colony. About 8 cm. above this the stem is 

 broken off. The branch which remains forks about 3 cm. above its origin into two long 

 branches, each of which gives off several side branches in a straggling and irregular manner 

 which rebranch until branchings of the fifth order are attained. The main branches are more 

 or less flattened. The polyps are ]jretly evenly distributed on the sides and front of the 

 colony; but the back is almost completely bare. On the terminal twigs there is a tendency 

 toward a regularly alternate arrangement of the calyces, the average distance from summit to 

 summit being about 3 mm. 



The individual calyces are conical in shape, and vary greatly in size in different 

 colonies, attaining a height of 2.1 mm. and a diameter of 3 mm. in the largest specimen, 

 which is the one described. The summits are inclined toward the distal ends of the branches. 

 The caly.K walls are filled with vertically disposed spindles which do not imbricate perceptiblv, 

 and the points of which project slightly above the margin. Sometimes single spindles reach 

 from base to margin. 



The polyps are completely retractile, but a number of them are not retracted in the 

 type specimen, standing well above the calyx with the tentacles folded over the mouths. The 

 collaret is formed of red spindles, above which the operculum rests with a number of small, 

 bar-like spindles arranged en chevron over the tentacle bases. The ends of tentacles are 

 armed with similar spindles placed transversely. 



Spicules. These are all spindles of various sizes, the largest being embedded in the 

 ccenenchyma and attaining a length of 2 mm. They are densely tuberculated and their edges 

 are closely fitted, as in the genus Acis. 



Color. The colony is deep crimson throughout, the spicules being of the same color. 



This very handsome species is quite variable, some specimens differing from the type, 

 particularly in the size of the calyces. For instance the specimen from Station 80 has calyces 

 that are seldom more than 1.5 mm. in height and 2 mm. in diameter. While the type, from 

 Station 117, has calyces of the maximum size mentioned above. There seems to be no specific 

 difference between the specimens, however. 



Versluysia new genus. 

 Muricclla of authors, in part. 



Calyces conical, subconical or verruciform. Spicules all in the form of spindles which 

 sometimes are modified in the form of oblong disks; those of the the calyx walls and tentacle 

 bases not arranged en chevron, and not regularly forming eight points around the margin. 

 The sjjindles of the ccenenchyma are usually very large, and in two layers, the outer being 

 composed of large spindles that are often not in contact, thus exposing a layer of smaller 

 spindles beneath. 



The type of this genus is Versluysia (Mnricella) ceylonensis (Thomson and Henderson). 



A division of the old genus Muricella seems necessary in order to separate such widely 

 divergent forms as Rhiricella nitida Verrill on the one hand, and Muricella ceylonensis Thomson 



