'12 



2.8 cm. from its orgin. The remainder of this branch is simple and 9.2 cm. long. The other 

 main branch gives origin to two branchlets, one of which is forked near its end on its inner 

 side and is unbranched throughout its distal 11.6 cm. The stem and branches are round in 

 section and the calyces are entirely included, or so nearly so that the surface seems smooth 

 at first glance. There are, however, very slight swellings that indicate the positions of the 

 polyps. These are mainly lateral in position and tend to form two alternating rows (or one 

 zigzag row) on each side. The front and of the branches are largely devoid or polyps, although 

 they occasionally invade these surfaces. 



The individual calyces are indicated by very low swellings and by their mouths, which 

 are 8-rayed in retraction, as is characteristic of the genus. These mouths are about 1.4 mm. 

 apart on the average. The polyps are so strongly retracted that their characters can hardly 

 be made out. The basal portions of the tentacles are thickly encrusted with warty spindles and 

 have no very definite arrangement. There is a tendency, however, to a longitudinal disposition. 



A cross section of a branch shows a fairly thick coenenchyma and an a.xis which appears 

 to be solidly calcareous without the concentric lamellae of alternating hard and soft layers 

 characteristic of several genera of Gorganellidae. 



Spicules, The outer layer is composed mainly of small very characteristic double 

 heads. The inner coenenchyma is filled with usually larger girdled spindles, terete spindles, 

 a few double crosses and an occasional very small club. 



Color. The entire colony is of a dull pink color. 



General distribution. Type locality is in the Gulf of Mannaar. 



This specimen has a considerable superficial resemblance to certain slender ple.xaurids. 

 It is a true gorgonellid, however, but with entirely immersed calyces. 



2. Ven-iicella flaviflora new name. (Plate I, figs, i, i «.) ; 

 Stat. 47. Bay of Bima, near South fort. 55 meters. 



Colony subflabellate in form, 29 cm. in height. The main stem divides dichotomously 

 four times and attains a height of 12.5 cm. Above the basal forking it is round and 3 mm. 

 in diameter. 1.7 cm. above its base it divides into three branches in a curious manner, as if 

 the outer branch were stuck on to where the others fork. The further branching is dichotc- 

 mous in the main, but in one large branch it is unilateral, there being si.\ upright and parallel 

 branchlets from one side. The terminal twigs are often quite long, one being about 15 cm. 

 in length. These twigs are flattened, this appearance being exaggerated by the fact that the 

 calyces are bilaterally arranged. A slight elevated ridge or keel is evident on one side of 

 many of the branches, and sometimes this can be seen on both sides. The twigs are 

 1.7 mm. X 2.2 mm. in cross section. The calyces are all lateral and usually in a single row 

 on each side. They are emplanted, however, alternately toward the front and back of the 

 colony, thus giving the appearance of two rows. They are rather regularly spaced, the distance 

 between them being usually under i mm. 



