90 



•5 mm. in height and with a diameter of 1.5 mm. The margins are ornamented with vertical 

 points that are broad and sharp, and the entire walls present broad, saw-tooth-like points 

 projecting outward and upward, and often imbricating. These points are projections from stellate 

 spicules partly embedded in the coenenchyma. The polyps are completely retractile and capable 

 of being concealed by the calyx walls. The collaret is well marked and the operculum is formed 

 in the usual way, the pair of longitudinal spindles on each opercular flap being broader than 

 usual. The coenenchyma is filled with heavy fusiform spindles of the Muricella type. 



Spicules. The most conspicuous spicules are the large spindles of the coenenchyma 

 just mentioned. They are often wavy or sinuous, and sometimes attain a length of 2.5 mm. 

 The star-like spicules of the caly.x; walls are very much smaller. Very rarely they show a few 

 projecting points on one side as in Acanthogorgia^ but this can not be deemed a character- 

 istic feature. 



Color. The colony is a deep coral red, approaching crimson. The spicules are scarlet, 

 and the a.xis is greenish brown. 



4. Heterogorgia clausa new species. (Plate XV, figs. 4, 4«). 



Stat. 80. 2°25'.S., II7°43'E. Borneo Bank. 50 — 40 meters. Coral sand. 



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



Stat. 274. 5° 28.2 S., i34°53'.9E. near Aru Islands. 57 meters. Sand and stones. 



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



Colony flabellate, 7.2 cm. high and 5.5 cm. wide. The main stem is 3 mm. in diameter, 

 and gives off a branch 1.4 cm. from its base. This branch curves outward and upward, giving 

 off branchlets from its outer side only. Two of these branchlets bear branches of the third 

 order in an irregularly alternate manner. Above the origin of the first branch the main stem 

 divides into two parts, each part bearing branches in an irregular manner. The average distance 

 between branchlets is about 5 mm. One branch is much swollen by the presence of a para.sitic 

 annelid between the axis and the coenenchyma. The calyces are regularly distributed on all 

 sides of the colony. In many places they are contiguous, and are rarely more than i mm. apart 



The individual calyces are low, evenly rounded Verrucae with small apertures. Their 

 walls are packed with small spicules which look like disks on surface view, but which are 

 really the imbricating jagged edges of irregular spicules embedded in the coenenchyma. The 

 margin is marked by small inconspicuous points. The calyces are about i mm. in height and 

 diameter. The polyps are retractile, the calyces closing over them so as to leave but a small 

 aperture. The operculum is very delicate, but consists of the ordinary three spindles forming 

 an acute-angled triangle. The collaret is present, but delicate. 



Spicules. The must abundant forms are stars and other radiate forms. A few small 

 crosses, clubs, daggers, etc. are also seen. 



Color. The colony is grayish brown, the axis dark brown and the spicules colorless. 



A small specimen from Station 274 is placed with this species with doubt. It shows 

 a number of comparatively large spindles mixed with the other spicules in the coenenchyma. 



