38 



The specimens consist of fragments, the largest of which is 9 cm. in height and sends 

 off one lateral branch which originates 1.5 cm. from its base and is 3.5 cm. in length. The 

 calyces are nearly all lateral and alternate in position, and there is a strong tendency for those 

 on a given side to be inclined alternately towards the front and back of the branch. They 

 are about 3 mm. apart from summit to summit. 



The individual calyces are strictly conical in form, and their walls are filled with spindles 

 which tend to lie in a horizontal position on the basal part and in a vertical position in the 

 upper parts of the calyx. They attain a height of 2 mm. and a diameter of 2.5 mm. at their 

 bases. The polyps are entirely retractile, the calyces closing over them in retraction, and 

 becoming true cones. When the polyps are expanded, in preserved specimens, they rest on 

 the summit of the calyx walls, showing a delicate but quite evident collaret, and an operculum 

 composed of two bent spindles divaricated at their proximal, and meeting at their distal ends. 

 There are a number of other spindles lying along the dorsal surface of the tentacles, but they 

 are not arranged en chevron. 



Spicules. These are all curved or straight tuberculate spindles, those on the stem 

 and branches being much larger than those on the calyces, some of the former attaining a 

 length of 2.5 mm. The coenenchyma has two layers of spindles, the under layer being com- 

 po.sed of smaller spindles which are pink in color. 



Color. The calyces and smaller branches are white, when the outer spicules are not 

 rubbed off. The proximal portion of the stem and main branches are pink. The large spicules 

 are colorless, but the under layer is pink. 



4. Vershiysia dentata new species. (Plate VI, figs. 3, 3«; Plate XX, fig. 2). 



Stat. 166. 2°2S'.5S., 131° 3.3 E. near New Guinea. 118 meters. Sand. 



Stat. 204. 4° 20' S., 1 22° 58' E. near Buton Island. 75 — 94 meters. Stony. 



Stat. 260. 5°36'.5S., i32°55'.2E. Kei Islands. 90 meters. Sand, coral and shells. 



Stat. 289. 9° 0.35., I26°24'.5E. Timor Sea. 112 meters. Mud, sand and shells. 



Colony (incomplete) flabellate in form, but straggling and irregular in habit, not reticu- 

 late. Almost 2 cm. from its base the main stem gives origin to two opposite branches, and 

 two others are given off almost at its base. The left one of the opposite pair becomes the 

 main part of the colony, sending off branchlets mainly from its left side about i cm. apart. 

 These branchlets often again divide, producing branchings of the 4th order. The calyces are 

 placed on all sides of the branches, but tend to be lateral and opposite. They are about 

 1.5 mm. apart, on the average. 



The individual calyces are verruciform to conical in form, usually a low cone with a 

 truncated summit surrounded by a circlet of low vertical points. They are about i mm. high 

 and 2 mm. broad at the base. The calyx walls are armed with oval wart)- spindles that are 

 sometimes disk-shaped and inclined to overlap, as in the genus Placogorgia. The polyps are 

 completely retractile, but a few are protruded in the type specimen. These show a delicate 

 collaret, and an operculum composed mainly of three spindles in the usual jjosition. 



