2,7 



The specimen from Station 305 is much hirocr than that described, and the branches 

 sometimes anastomose. 



2. Vershiysia ramosa (Thomson and Henderson). 



Miiricella ramosa Thomson and Henderson. Ceylon Pearl Oyster Fisheries. Supplementary 

 Reports, N" XX, 1905, p. 301. 



Stat. 305. Mid chann'el, Solor Straits, oft' Kampong Menanga. 113 meters. Stony. 



Colony flabellatc and moderately reticulate, 1 7 cm. in height and with a spread of 

 28 cm. Two stems arise apparently from the same root. A considerable portion of one side 

 of the larger stem is devoid of calyces and covered with a sponge. The main stem is erect 

 and sends off a number of large roughly alternate branches, between which a number of 

 smaller twigs are borne. The average distance between the branches is about 5 cm. The bran- 

 ching is quite profuse, the twigs anastomosing to form a loose reticulation, particularly in the 

 middle portions of' the colony. The calyces are almost all of them lateral, and tend to an 

 alternate arrangement. The twigs do not end in polyps. 



The individual calyces are quite varied in size, some being scarcely i mm. in height, 

 while others almost 2 mm., with a diameter of i mm. Their walls are composed almost 

 entirely of large spindles set on in a hap-hazard way, but tending to a horizontal arrangement 

 on basal portions of the caKx, while the distal portion is filled with large vertical spindles 

 which rise far above the calyx margin. Sometimes two of these latter spindles have their 

 distal ends approximated to form a single point, and occasionally this results in eight marginal 

 projections. 



The tentacles are not regularly and symmetrically infolded, as in most muriceids, but 

 seem to be tucked in irregularly. There is no true operculum, and but a few very small irre- 

 gularly disposed spindles are found on the tentacles. 



The ccenenchyma has two layers of spicules of the stem and branches; an inner layer 

 of smaller spindles such as are found in the calyx walls, and an outer layer of very large, 

 often bent and twisted, spindles lying lengthwise of the branch. The outer layer only i)artiall\- 

 covers the inner, leaving the latter exposed in many places, and giving the appearance of 

 having been artificially stuck on by a careless hand. 



Spicules. These are all warty spindles of various sizes, the largest being very con- 

 spicuous and in some instances attaining a length of 3 mm. 



Color. The colony is tlark umber brown, the axis almost black, and the spicules colorless. 



General distribution. The type specim.ens were found in deep water in the Gulf of 

 Manaar, and off the west coast of Ceylon. 



3. Vershiysia rosea new species. (Plate \T, figs. 4, \a\ Plate XX, fig. 3). 



Stat. 204. 4°20'S., I22°58'E. near Buton Island. 75—94 nieters. Sand. 



Stat. 305. Mid channel in Solor Straits, off Kampong Menanga. 113 meters. Stony. 



