14 



a poorly marked spiral. There are no evident median bare spaces or grooves, and the calyces 

 are much more distant than in other species of this genus in the collection. They are more 

 sparsely scattered over the front and back than on the sides of the branches. 



The individual calyces are low, dome-shaped Verrucae with their openings directed out- 

 ward, not inward nor upward, as in yuncella. A typical one measures 1.5 mm. in diameter 

 at the base and about .7 mm. in height. The apertures are star-like owing to the lobed mar- 

 gins below which the tentacle bases form a star-shaped figure, the tentacles themselves being 

 infolded. The polyp bodies are short and stout, and their upper portions bear numerous small 

 spicules transversely disposed. The tentacle bases are encrusted with spicules so as to form a 

 sort of pseudo-operculum in retraction. A cross section of one of the larger branches shows a 

 denser structure of the axis than in Juncella^ but there is still a very di.stinct appearance of 

 lamination. The water-vascular canals are very regularly disposed around the axis and a short 

 distance outside of it. In a longitudinal section of a part of a branch round and regular 

 openings are seen in the walls of the primary canals, and these communicate with the body 

 cavities of the polyps. 



Spicules. These are quite characteristic of the genus ]'crriicella. The most common 

 forms are small, densely tuberculate double heads, the heads being separated by a narrow 

 girdle. This girdle is often obliterated, forming oval densely tuberculate spindles. True tuber- 

 culate clubs are also found, as well as regular spindles. All possible gradations between the 

 heads, clubs and spindles are found. 



Color. The colony is a lively coral red throughout. 



Genus Ctenocella Valenciennes. 



Ctenocella Valenciennes. Comptes rendus, XLI, 1855, p. 14. 

 Ctenocella Milne Edwards et Haime. Hist. Nat. des Coralliaires, 1857, p. 185. 

 Ctenocella Ridley. Zoological Collections of H. M. S. Alert, 1884, p. 348. 

 Ctenocella Studer. Versuch eines Systemes der Alcyonaria, 1887, p. 68. 

 Ctenocella Wright and Studer. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. LXVI. 



The original description of the genus Ctenocella is as follows : 



"Le sclerobase s'allongeant en baguettes droites et pectinees d'un seul cote de la tige 

 principale". 



Milne Edwards and Haime (1857) define the genus as follows: 



"Polypieroide s'allongeant en baguettes droites et pectinees d'un seul cote". 



Studer (1887) gives an adequate definition of the genus which is freely translated 

 as follows : 



"Colony peculiarly pectinate, the twigs springing as unbranched upright switches from 

 the upper sides of the branches. Calyces not prominent, on two sides of the branchlets. An 

 evident median furrow is present (on the branches). The spicules are warty double clubs \ 

 those of the calyces being, according to Ridley, distinct from those of the cirnenchyma, being 



' These spicules would he called "double heads" iu the nomenclature adopted in tlie present work. 



