52 



branch with coenenchyma arising 2 cm. above the bend. This branch gives origin to several 

 lateral branchlets, most of which come from its outer side. The main stem also gives off 

 several simple branchlets and, near its distal end, two larger branchings which themselves give 

 off branchlets, the average distance between branches being 5.6 cm. The calyces are distributed 

 more or less on all sides of the colony, but tend to be lateral in position. They are very 

 unevenly placed, sometimes being contiguous and again being as much as 2 mm. apart. 

 There are no strictly terminal polyps. 



The individual calyces are low verrucee, a typical one measuring somewhat less, than 

 .5 mm. in height and 1.5 mm. in width at the base. The caly.x walls are filled with irregular 

 plates from the sides of which sharp points arise, a crown of such points being on the margin, 

 and the edges of the plates are imbricated. The polyps are retractile, and the operculum is 

 usually well below the margin. The operculum consists of spindles arranged in the ordinary 

 way; but the spindles are delicate. 



Spicules. There are numbers of the typical unilateral forms characteristic of this 

 genus. Besides these there are many of the Echinomuricea type, consisting of a sharp thorny 

 point arising from an expanded and foliaceous base. There are also irregular heavy plates 

 with rounded angles, oval discs, etc. ; but the most numerous and characteristic spicules are 

 the unilateral ones described above. The plates in the coenenchyma of the stem and branches 

 are often imbricated as in Acaniptogorgia. 



Color. The colony is almost white, in alcohol, the axis is brown, and the spicules 

 are colorless. 



3. Thesea flava new species. (Plate VIII, figs, i, la). 



Stat. 50. Bay of Badjo, west coast of Flores. Up to 40 meters. Mud and .sand. 



Stat. 105. 6°8'N., i2i°i9'E. Sulu Sea. 275 meters. Coral bottom. 



Stat. 164. i°42'.5 S., I30°47'.S E. near New Guinea. 32 meters. Sand and stones. 



Stat. 273. East coast of Aru Islands. 13 meters. Sand. 



Stat. 274. 5° 28.2 S., 1 34° 53.9 E. near Aru Islands. 57 meters. Sand and stones. 



Colony strictly flabellate in form. 10.5 cm. in height and with a spread of 14 cm. The 

 main stem is 3 mm. in diameter, and is unsymmetrically branched, sending off two large 

 branches to the right, and but one large branch to the left. They send off branchlets which 

 are irregularly alternate and average about 5 cm. apart. These branchlets are constricted at 

 the base and somewhat enlarged and flattened at their distal ends. There are a number of 

 gall-like enlargements on the colony enclosing parasitic barnacles. The calyces are thickly 

 crowded over the entire surface, being often contiguous and seldom more than i mm. apart. 



The individual calyces are low rounded verructe, usually less than .5 mm. high and 

 about 1.3 mm. broad at the base. The calyx walls are bristling in appearance, being beset 

 with thorny projections borne on the sides of the unilateral spicules, which here reach their 

 typical development. These form a circlet of points around the calyx margins and also irregular 

 whorls of upward and outward projecting points lower down, the whorls themselves giving the 

 appearance of imbrication. The polyps are completely retractile. The operculum is exceedingly 



